Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy

Immune checkpoints are accessory molecules that either promote or inhibit T cell activation. Two inhibitory molecules, cytotoxic T cell antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death 1 (PD-1), got high attention, as inhibition of CTLA-4 or PD-1 signaling provides the first immune therapy that significantly improves the survival of patients with metastatic solid cancers. Inhibition of CTLA-4 or PD-1 was first studied in and approved for patients with metastatic melanoma. Blocking immune checkpoints is also efficient in non-small-cell lung cancer, renal cell cancers, hypermutated gastro-intestinal cancers and others.
Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research