Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Block Checkpoint Proteins from Binding with Their Partner Proteins

 

  Cancer immunotherapies often use combinations of drugs like immune checkpoint inhibitors or disease-modifying drugs. One such drug acts directly against a protein known as CTLA-4, which is a part of the T cells that are responsible for immunity against diseases like cancer. According to Foundation for Women’s Cancer, around 5,170 new cases of vaginal cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Other immune anti-inhibitors act directly against another protein known as PD-1. Together, these two proteins destroy cancer cells and prevent their growth. Examples of checkpoint inhibitors include pembrolizumab (Keytruda), ipilimumab (Yervoy), nivolumab (Opdivo), and atezolizumab (Tecentriq).

  Immune checkpoint inhibitors have now been shown to be very effective in clinical trials. These drugs, together with the cancer drugs already used in cancer treatment, have been found to be highly effective in blocking the biological process of cancer. The cancers, when they first start growing, replicate rapidly and outgrow the cancerous cells surrounding them. When they become large enough, they divide and form new cancerous cells. Inhibitors prevent these cells from dividing and multiplying, therefore, preventing the disease from progressing.

  Immune checkpoint inhibitors block checkpoint proteins from binding with their partner proteins. Currently, the FDA has approved several immunomodulators for the treatment of cancer. Different types of immune anti-inhibitors target different types of cancer cells, allowing the body to develop a defense against different types of cancer. Immune anti-inhibitors can be used in combination with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors can be produced naturally in the body. These checkpoints help keep immune responses from being too strong and sometimes can keep T cells from killing cancer cells. Immune anti-inhibitors have been studied extensively for several years, but only recently have they started to be tested in clinical trials. These clinical trials will eventually lead to larger amounts of immune checkpoint inhibitors being available to patients. As more cancer patients use immune checkpoint inhibitors, the research into their safety and effectiveness will continue.