immuncheckpointhämmare

Immuncheckpointshämmare, also known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, are a type of immunotherapy drug used in cancer treatment. They work by blocking specific proteins on immune cells and cancer cells that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer. These proteins, known as immune checkpoints, act as a "brake" on the immune response. By inhibiting these checkpoints, these drugs essentially release the brakes, allowing the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively.

The primary immune checkpoints targeted by these drugs are PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) and CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4). PD-1 is found on T cells, a type of immune cell, and CTLA-4 is also found on T cells. Cancer cells can express ligands that bind to these checkpoint proteins, signaling to the T cells to stand down and avoid attacking. Immuncheckpointshämmare block these interactions, thereby activating the T cells to attack the tumor.

These inhibitors have shown significant success in treating various types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and certain types of lymphoma. While they can be highly effective, they can also cause side effects, as the overactivation of the immune system can sometimes lead to autoimmune-like reactions where the immune system attacks healthy tissues. Common side effects include fatigue, skin rash, and inflammation of organs like the lungs, colon, or thyroid. The development of immuncheckpointshämmare has revolutionized cancer therapy and continues to be an active area of research.