Table 1.

Summary of the tumor types for which immune checkpoint blockade therapies are FDA-approved

Tumor typeTherapeutic agentFDA approval year
MelanomaIpilimumab2011
MelanomaNivolumab2014
MelanomaPembrolizumab2014
Non–small cell lung cancerNivolumab2015
Non–small cell lung cancerPembrolizumab2015
Melanoma (BRAF wild-type)Ipilimumab + nivolumab2015
Melanoma (adjuvant)Ipilimumab2015
Renal cell carcinomaNivolumab2015
Hodgkin lymphomaNivolumab2016
Urothelial carcinomaAtezolizumab2016
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomaNivolumab2016
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomaPembrolizumab2016
Melanoma (any BRAF status)Ipilimumab + nivolumab2016
Non–small cell lung cancerAtezolizumab2016
Hodgkin lymphomaPembrolizumab2017
Merkel cell carcinomaAvelumab2017
Urothelial carcinomaAvelumab2017
Urothelial carcinomaDurvalumab2017
Urothelial carcinomaNivolumab2017
Urothelial carcinomaPembrolizumab2017
MSI-high or MMR-deficient solid tumors of any histologyPembrolizumab2017
MSI-high, MMR-deficient metastatic colorectal cancerNivolumab2017
Pediatric melanomaIpilimumab2017
Hepatocellular carcinomaNivolumab2017
Gastric and gastroesophageal carcinomaPembrolizumab2017
Non–small cell lung cancerDurvalumab2018
Renal cell carcinomaIpilimumab + nivolumab2018

  • NOTE: A summary of the tumor indications, therapeutic agents, and year of FDA approval for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. FDA approval includes regular approval and accelerated approval granted as of May 2018. Ipilimumab is an anti-CTLA4 antibody. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are anti–PD-1 antibodies. Atezolizumab, avelumab, and durvalumab are anti–PD-L1 antibodies. Tumor type reflects the indications for which treatment has been approved. Only the first FDA approval granted for each broad tissue type or indication for each therapeutic agent is noted. In cases where multiple therapies received approval for the same tumor type in the same year, agents are listed alphabetically.

  • Abbreviations: MSI, microsatellite instability; MMR, mismatch repair.