Immune checkpoint antibodies increase survival in patients with metastatic melanoma
Fløe, L.E.ær.; Svane, I.M.; Bastholt, L.; Schmidt, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 178(33)
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 1603-6824 PMID: 27550784 Document Number: 690290
The incidence of melanoma is rising and until recently, metastatic melanoma had a poor survival prognosis. Manipulation of two newly discovered immune pathways have shown impressive results. The first is treatment with anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-antigen (CTLA)-4 antibody which blocks the inhibitory receptor CTLA-4. The other is anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1 antibody which blocks the inhibitory receptor PD-1 on T-cells. Thereby, the T-cells are kept activated and able to attack cancer cells.