How immunotherapy
treatments with PD-1 inhibitors work
Your immune system consists of lots of different cells that act as the body’s natural defence system. These cells include white blood cells (called T-cells), which can detect and destroy things like bacteria, viruses and cancer cells. Sometimes, cancer cells find a way to stop being detected by T-cells and can make them inactive. This can allow the cancer to grow and spread.1
There are many types of immunotherapy treatment that work differently. The type of immunotherapy treatments called PD-1 inhibitors (or anti-PD1) work by reactivating the immune system’s T-cells so that they can detect cancer cells that are hiding. With this type of immunotherapy, more active T-cells may be able to seek and attack cancer cells. This might mean that your cancer stops growing or spreading.1
See how immunotherapy
activates your immune system to
help fight cancer
See how immunotherapy
activates your immune system to
help fight cancer
References
- ESMO patient guide series. Immunotherapy side effects. Patient guide on immunotherapy-related side effects and their management; What are immunotherapy side effects? Available at https://www.esmo.org/for-patients/patient-guides/immunotherapy-side-effects
ONC-AU-2100411