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The blockade of immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy

Drew M Pardoll1

  • 1Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, CRB1 Room 444, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. dpardol1@jhmi.edu

Nature Reviews. Cancer
|March 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Blocking immune checkpoints, like CTLA4 and PD1, is a promising strategy to activate the body's immune system against tumors. This approach enhances anti-tumor immunity and may lead to lasting clinical responses in cancer patients.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Immune checkpoints are natural pathways that regulate immune responses and maintain self-tolerance.
  • Tumors exploit these checkpoints to evade immune detection and destruction, particularly by T cells.
  • Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing effective cancer immunotherapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of blocking immune checkpoints for activating therapeutic anti-tumor immunity.
  • To highlight the role of immune checkpoints in tumor immune resistance.
  • To discuss the therapeutic implications of modulating immune checkpoints.

Main Methods:

  • Targeting ligand-receptor interactions involved in immune checkpoints.
  • Utilizing antibody-based therapies to block immune checkpoints.
  • Investigating recombinant forms of ligands or receptors for immune modulation.

Main Results:

  • Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) antibody therapies have received FDA approval.
  • Early clinical data for programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) blockers show promise.
  • These immunotherapies offer diverse opportunities to enhance anti-tumor immunity.

Conclusions:

  • Immune checkpoint blockade represents a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Targeting CTLA4 and PD1 offers potential for durable clinical responses.
  • Further research into immune checkpoint modulation holds promise for improving cancer treatment outcomes.

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