Checkpoint Inhibitors: Unleashing Your Immune System to Fight Cancer
Have you ever heard of checkpoint inhibitors? They are a fascinating type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system perform its best—fighting off invaders, including cancer cells. Here is a simple breakdown of what they are, how they work, and why they are so promising:
What Are Checkpoint Inhibitors?
- Immune System “Brakes”: Our immune cells have natural “brakes” (proteins like PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4) that keep the immune response under control.
- Cancer cells can use these brakes to avoid being attacked by your body’s defenses.
- Releasing the Brakes: Checkpoint inhibitors block these proteins, effectively removing the brakes so that the immune system can more effectively recognise and attack cancer cells.
How They Work:
- PD-1 Inhibitors: Medications like pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) block the PD-1 protein on T cells, which helps prevent cancer cells from turning off your immune response.
- PD-L1 Inhibitors: These drugs target the PD-L1 protein found on cancer cells. By blocking PD-L1, they stop cancer cells from deactivating T cells, allowing your immune system to do its job.
- CTLA-4 Inhibitors: Drugs such as ipilimumab (Yervoy) block CTLA-4, another checkpoint protein, further boosting your immune response against cancer.
What Types of Cancer Can Benefit?
Checkpoint inhibitors have shown promise in treating several cancers, including:
- Melanoma (skin cancer)
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Head and neck cancers
- Certain blood cancers
Potential Side Effects:
Like all treatments, checkpoint inhibitors can have side effects. Some people experience mild symptoms like fatigue or skin reactions, while others might have more serious immune-related effects. Your healthcare team will monitor you closely to manage these reactions.
This treatment is an excellent example of modern medicine working with our natural defences to create more personalised cancer care. If you or a loved one is exploring treatment options, ask your doctor about immunotherapy and whether checkpoint inhibitors—including PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 inhibitors—might be a good fit.
Rainbow Cancer Research conducts trials using the new checkpoint inhibitor Domvanalimab in combination with the standard immunotherapy Durvalumab for lung cancer patients, comparing it to the standard Durvalumab immunotherapy for lung cancer. For more details, please contact: For more information, please email
us at trials@rainbowoncology.co.za, or call 0319043098 or refer to www.oncorainbowresearch.com for the latest trials available.
Please share this post and spread the word about how science gives our immune systems new ways to fight cancer!