Immunotherapy
PD-1 Inhibitor
Also known as: Anti-PD-1 therapy, PD-1 blockade
Definition
A type of checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the PD-1 protein on T cells, helping the immune system attack cancer cells.
Detailed Explanation
PD-1 (Programmed Death-1) inhibitors prevent cancer from hiding from the immune system. Common PD-1 inhibitors include pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), and cemiplimab (Libtayo). They're used in melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and many other tumor types. Response rates vary but can be durable when they work.