Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Practical Overview

When talking about checkpoint inhibitors, drugs that block proteins used by cancer cells to hide from the immune system. Also known as immune checkpoint blockade, they enable T‑cells to recognize and kill tumors. PD‑1 blockers, agents that target the programmed cell death protein‑1 pathway and CTLA‑4 therapy, drugs that inhibit the cytotoxic T‑lymphocyte‑associated antigen‑4 checkpoint are the two most common families. Together they form the backbone of modern cancer immunotherapy, treatment approaches that harness the body’s own immune response to fight cancer.