Friends of Cancer Research and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy convened a roundtable discussion on October 5, 2016, to discuss strategies to optimize the use of immunotherapy in cancer. Leading experts in the field shared their perspective on the state of the field and strategies to address current research questions and evidence gaps.

The roundtable was divided into three sessions: standardized toxicity management and communication; development of non-comparative collaborative trial to test multiple PD-1 inhibitors using a common control; and combinatorial approaches. Dr. Ramy Ibrahim chaired the first session and posed to the group the concept of a consolidated toxicity management guideline for physicians that would apply to all existing immune checkpoint inhibitors. After a rigorous discussion where most agreed a toxicity management guideline is necessary despite some issues with creating one, it was decided that a group should be formed to further discuss the development of such a guide.

Dr. Marc Theoret chaired the second session on a proposal to develop a non-comparative collaborative trial to test multiple PD-1 inhibitors using a common control. Two different approaches were discussed for a possible trial, and at the end of the session the need to continue the conversation and focus upon a disease type was decided upon. The last session was chaired by Dr. Jedd Wolchok and the need for combinatorial approaches in immunotherapy was discussed. At the end of the session it was determined that randomization would not be required to study combinations in PD-1 and CTLA-4 refractory disease.