Immune checkpoint inhibitor; the panel on the left shows the binding of proteins B7-1/B7-2 (on the tumor cell) to CTLA-4 (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-B7-1/B7-2 and anti-CTLA-4) blocking the binding of B7-1/B7-2 to CTLA-4, which allows the T cells to kill tumor cells.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor. Checkpoint proteins, such as B7-1/B7-2 on tumor cells and CTLA-4 on T cells, help keep immune responses in check. The binding of B7-1/B7-2 to CTLA-4 keeps T cells from killing tumor cells in the body (left panel). Blocking the binding of B7-1/B7-2 to CTLA-4 with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-B7-1/B7-2 or anti-CTLA-4) allows the T cells to kill tumor cells (right panel).

From: Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)

Cover of PDQ Cancer Information Summaries
PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet].
Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002-.

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