IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS – 3RD TYPE OF IMMUNOTHERAPY

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a third type of immunotherapy (for other types search in the news ⬇️)

Immune checkpoints on cell surfaces help control an immune response.

Usually, immune checkpoints keep T cells inactive, that is,

in an off state, until they’re needed.

This keeps the T cells from harming normal cells.

Cancer cells can take advantage of these checkpoints to switch T cells off.

This keeps the cancer cells from being killed.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block the checkpoints.

This frees the T cells to attack the cancer.

These three types of immunotherapy are effective ways to treat cancer, but they don’t work

for every patient and can cause serious side effects.

Source: National Cancer Institute

Artwork and animation by Terese Winslow, LLC and Devon Medical Art, LLC