Abstract
The immune system recognizes and is poised to eliminate cancer but is held in check by inhibitory receptors and ligands. These immune checkpoint pathways, which normally maintain self-tolerance and limit collateral tissue damage during anti-microbial immune responses, can be co-opted by cancer to evade immune destruction. Drugs interrupting immune checkpoints, such as anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and others in early development, can unleash anti-tumor immunity and mediate durable cancer regressions. The complex biology of immune checkpoint pathways still contains many mysteries, and the full activity spectrum of checkpoint-blocking drugs, used alone or in combination, is currently the subject of intense study.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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CD28 Antigens / antagonists & inhibitors
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CD28 Antigens / immunology
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CD28 Antigens / physiology
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CTLA-4 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
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CTLA-4 Antigen / immunology
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CTLA-4 Antigen / physiology
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Humans
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Immunotherapy
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Models, Immunological*
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Neoplasms / immunology*
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Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
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Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / immunology
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Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / physiology
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antineoplastic Agents
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CD28 Antigens
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CTLA-4 Antigen
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Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor