Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) checkpoint inhibitor resistance definitions: efforts to harmonize terminology and accelerate immuno-oncology drug development

The need for solid clinical definitions of resistance to programmed death 1 or its ligand (PD-(L)1) inhibitors for clinical trial design was identified as a priority by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). Broad consensus efforts have provided definitions for primary and secondary resistance and resistance after stopping therapy for both single-agent PD-(L)1 inhibitors and associated combinations. Validation of SITC’s definitions is critical and requires field-wide data sharing and collaboration. Here, in this commentary, we detail current utility and incorporation of SITC’s definitions and discuss the next steps both the society and the field must take to further advance immuno-oncology drug development.