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Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors

Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are special antibodies that belong to the latest generation of active substances in immuno-oncology. They are directed against certain immune checkpoints. These act as “brakes” on the immune system – they normally prevent excessive immune reactions in healthy tissue.


Some tumors can activate these immune checkpoints, i.e. trigger their braking function: they carry molecules on their surface that correspond to certain T-cell receptors that function like stop buttons. On contact, the T cell is inactivated and does not attack the cancer cell.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors can help here – they release the “brakes” by occupying critical surface molecules of the cancer cells. As a result, the cancer cells can no longer press the T-cell deactivation buttons. As a result, the T cells can take action against them.

The disadvantage

This form of immunotherapy is not a “magic bullet”. It may take several weeks for them to take effect. Furthermore, not all patients respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. And when they are used, the immune system can overreact.

When is immunotherapy with medication carried out?

At present, there are only suitable immune oncology drugs for certain types of cancer. In addition, some of them are currently only being used in studies. The active substances developed to date for cancer immunotherapy and their areas of application include

Monoclonal antibodies - This form of immunotherapy is used for the following types of cancer:

  • Breast cancer

  • Colon cancer

  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)

  • Non-small cell lung cancer (a form of lung cancer)

  • Kidney cancer

  • Leukemia (“blood cancer”)

  • Multiple myeloma (plasmacytoma)

Checkpoint inhibitors - These are available for the treatment of the following tumor types, among others:

  • Lung cancer (non-small cell lung carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma)

  • Malignant melanoma (black skin cancer)

  • Renal cell cancer (renal cell carcinoma)

Cytokines - The areas of application are, for example:

  • Skin cancer

  • Leukemia

  • Renal cell cancer

Often recommended in conjunction with therapy with checkpoint inhibitors

Checkpoints serve as regulatory mechanisms that prevent overactivation of the immune system. Tumors exploit these checkpoints to suppress the immune response directed against them. Checkpoint inhibitors counteract this suppression by blocking the inhibitory signaling pathways, effectively “slowing down” the immune cells and allowing the immune system to resume its fight against the tumor. However, PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors are only effective if an immune response against the tumor is already present.

Checkpoint inhibitors can have serious side effects. To find out more, click on:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and their side effects | American Cancer Society

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