Approach one
CTLA-4
Dendritic cell
T-cell
CTLA-4 protein
Dendritic cells, which help signal problems like cancer, bear molecules that the T-cell protein CTLA-4 normally recognise as an ‘off switch’
Jim Allison’s lab developed a drug which blocked CTLA-4, taking the brakes off the immune system and allowing the T-cell to attack cancer
Approach two
PD-L1
Cancer cell
Inhibitor drug
PD-L1
Cancer cells produce a molecule, PD-L1, which prevents T-cells from recognising them as a threat. Some drugs block the cancer’s ability to hide, allowing T-cells to destroy it
Approach one: CTLA-4
T-cell
Dendritic cell
Dendritic cells, which help signal problems like cancer, bear molecules that the T-cell protein CTLA-4 normally recognise as an ‘off switch’
CTLA-4 protein
Jim Allison’s lab developed a drug which blocked CTLA-4, taking the brakes off the immune system and allowing the T-cell to attack cancer
Antibody
Approach two: PD-L1
Cancer cell
Cancer cells produce a molecule, PD-L1, which prevents T-cells from recognising them as a threat. Some drugs block the cancer’s ability to hide, allowing T-cells to destroy it
Inhibitor drug
PD-L1