Immunotherapy
PD-1 Inhibitor
Also known as: Anti-PD-1, PD-1 blocker, PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor
Definition
A type of immunotherapy that blocks the PD-1 protein on immune cells, allowing them to attack cancer cells more effectively.
Detailed Explanation
PD-1 (Programmed Death-1) is a checkpoint protein on T cells that normally prevents the immune system from attacking healthy cells. Cancer cells exploit this by expressing PD-L1, which binds to PD-1 and turns off T cells. PD-1 inhibitors like Keytruda and OPDIVO block this interaction, reactivating the immune response against cancer.