{"termId":772606,"language":"en","dictionary":"Cancer.gov","audience":"Patient","termName":"immune checkpoint inhibitor","firstLetter":"i","prettyUrlName":"immune-checkpoint-inhibitor","pronunciation":{"key":"(ih-MYOON CHEK-poynt in-HIH-bih-ter)","audio":"https://nci-media.cancer.gov/pdq/media/audio/775006.mp3"},"definition":{"html":"A type of drug that blocks proteins called checkpoints that are made by some types of immune system cells, such as T cells, and some cancer cells.  These checkpoints help keep immune responses from being too strong and sometimes can keep T cells from killing cancer cells. When these checkpoints are blocked, T cells can kill cancer cells better. Examples of checkpoint proteins found on T cells or cancer cells include PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4/B7-1/B7-2.  Some immune checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat cancer.","text":"A type of drug that blocks proteins called checkpoints that are made by some types of immune system cells, such as T cells, and some cancer cells.  These checkpoints help keep immune responses from being too strong and sometimes can keep T cells from killing cancer cells. When these checkpoints are blocked, T cells can kill cancer cells better. Examples of checkpoint proteins found on T cells or cancer cells include PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4/B7-1/B7-2.  Some immune checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat cancer."},"otherLanguages":[{"language":"es","termName":"inhibidor de puntos de control inmunitario","prettyUrlName":"inhibidor-de-puntos-de-control-inmunitario"}],"relatedResources":[{"Type":"External","Url":"https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/checkpoint-inhibitors","Text":"Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors"}],"media":[{"Type":"Image","ImageSources":[{"Size":"original","Src":"https://nci-media.cancer.gov/pdq/media/images/774646.jpg"},{"Size":"571","Src":"https://nci-media.cancer.gov/pdq/media/images/774646-571.jpg"},{"Size":"750","Src":"https://nci-media.cancer.gov/pdq/media/images/774646-750.jpg"}],"Ref":"CDR0000774646","Alt":"Immune checkpoint inhibitor; the panel on the left shows the binding of proteins PD-L1 (on the tumor cell) to PD-1 (on the T cell), which keeps T cells from killing tumor cells in the body. Also shown are a tumor cell antigen and T cell receptor. The panel on the right shows immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1) blocking the binding of PD-L1 to PD-1, which allows the T cells to kill tumor cells.","Caption":"Immune checkpoint inhibitor. Checkpoint proteins, such as PD-L1 on tumor cells and PD-1 on T cells, help keep immune responses in check. The binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 keeps T cells from killing tumor cells in the body (left panel). Blocking the binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1 or anti-PD-1) allows the T cells to kill tumor cells (right panel)."},{"Type":"Image","ImageSources":[{"Size":"original","Src":"https://nci-media.cancer.gov/pdq/media/images/776560.jpg"},{"Size":"571","Src":"https://nci-media.cancer.gov/pdq/media/images/776560-571.jpg"},{"Size":"750","Src":"https://nci-media.cancer.gov/pdq/media/images/776560-750.jpg"}],"Ref":"CDR0000776560","Alt":"Immune checkpoint inhibitor; the panel on the left shows the binding of the T-cell receptor (TCR) to antigen and MHC proteins on the antigen-presenting cell (APC) and the binding of CD28 on the T cell to B7-1/B7-2 on the APC. It also shows the binding of B7-1/B7-2 to CTLA-4 on the T cell, which keeps the T cells in the inactive state. The panel on the right shows immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-CTLA antibody) blocking the binding of B7-1/B7-2 to CTLA-4, which allows the T cells to be active and to kill tumor cells.","Caption":"Immune checkpoint inhibitor. Checkpoint proteins, such as B7-1/B7-2 on antigen-presenting cells (APC) and CTLA-4 on T cells, help keep the body’s immune responses in check. When the T-cell receptor (TCR) binds to antigen and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins on the APC and CD28 binds to B7-1/B7-2 on the APC, the T cell can be activated. However, the binding of B7-1/B7-2 to CTLA-4 keeps the T cells in the inactive state so they are not able to kill tumor cells in the body (left panel). Blocking the binding of B7-1/B7-2 to CTLA-4 with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-CTLA-4 antibody) allows the T cells to be active and to kill tumor cells (right panel)."},{"Type":"Video","Hosting":"youtube","Ref":"CDR0000795515","UniqueId":"GIUu239FWMg","Template":"Video75NoTitle","Title":"Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors","Caption":"Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. This animation explains one type of immunotherapy that uses immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat cancer."}]}