Anti-CTLA-4 therapy

Scientific illustration

Immune checkpoints are control mechanisms of the immune system. They can be turned on or off to start an immune response, and are crucial to prevent the immune system from targeting healthy cells in the body. Tumor cells can mimic these mechanisms and be mistakenly perceived as healthy cells, thus evading the attack of the immune system. 

This scientific illustration shows how anti-CTLA-4 therapy blocks the interaction between CTLA-4 and its ligand B7, promoting T cell activation.