Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) Blocking Agents in the Treatment of Cancer

Neoplasms are able to spread by blocking the ability of the immune system to fight off the cancer.  Jim Allison, currently with MD Anderson, discovered how that process works.[1]



Ipilimumab

 Under ideal circumstances, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are able to recognize and destroy cancer cells. However, there is also an inhibitory mechanism that interrupts this destruction. Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4), is a protein receptor that downregulates CTLs. Ipilimumab, a CTLA-4 blocker, turns off this inhibitory mechanism and allows CTLs to continue to destroy cancer cells.  Another CTLA-4 blocker being researched is Tremelimumab.

CTLA-4 Blocking Agents in the Treatment of Cancer (PubMed)
    Clinical Trials (Pubmed)
    Systematic Reviews (Pubmed)
    Reviews (PubMed)
    Meta-Analysis (Pubmed)

Current Clinical Trials