Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Identifying PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors with Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology
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PD-1 Blockers

Jedd D Wolchok1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Cell
|August 29, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are monoclonal antibodies that block programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptors. This immunotherapy approach dis-inhibits anti-tumor immune responses, leading to recent approvals for melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Monoclonal antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab target the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor.
  • PD-1 receptor blockade enhances tumor-specific immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the mechanism and recent therapeutic approvals of PD-1 inhibitors.
  • To highlight the role of PD-1 blockade in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on PD-1 inhibitors.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for nivolumab and pembrolizumab.

Main Results:

  • Nivolumab and pembrolizumab effectively block the PD-1 receptor.
  • These agents dis-inhibit anti-tumor immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • Nivolumab and pembrolizumab represent a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Recent approvals for metastatic melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer underscore their clinical utility.

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