Approach one
CTLA-4
Dendritic cell
T-cell
CTLA-4 protein
Dendritic cells are antigens that the T-cell protein CTLA-4 would normally recognise as a threat. Cancer overstimulates the CTLA-4 which acts as a circuit breaker
on this immune response
Jim Allison’s lab developed an antibody which blocked CTLA-4 allowing the T-cell attack on cancer to take place
Approach two
PD-1
Cancer cell
Inhibitor drug
PD-1
Cancer cells produce a molecule, PD-1, which prevents T-cells from recognising them as a threat. The inhibitor drug blocks the cancer’s ability to hide, allowing T-cells to destroy it
Approach one: CTLA-4
T-cell
Dendritic cell
Dendritic cells are antigens that the T-cell protein CTLA-4 would normally recognise as a threat. Cancer overstimulates the CTLA-4 which acts as a circuit breaker
on this immune response
CTLA-4 protein
Jim Allison’s lab developed an antibody which blocked CTLA-4 allowing the
T-cell attack on cancer to take place
Antibody
Approach two: PD-1
Cancer cell
Cancer cells produce a molecule, PD-1, which prevents T-cells from recognising them as a threat. The inhibitor drug blocks the cancer’s ability to hide, allowing T-cells to destroy it
Inhibitor drug
PD-1