avelumab + gemcitabine

Avelumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), blocking its interaction with the PD-1 and B7.1 receptors on T cells and antigen-presenting cells. This blockade removes inhibitory signals on T-cell activity, restoring adaptive anti-tumor immune responses and enabling antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog used as chemotherapy; it inhibits DNA synthesis by incorporation into DNA strands during replication, leading to cell death. The combination of avelumab with gemcitabine has been investigated as second-line therapy for advanced leiomyosarcoma (LMS) after failure of first-line chemotherapy, showing promising efficacy and manageable safety in phase 2 trials[1][5][6].