Can We Target Specific Immune Pathways To Activate Immune Responses Against Cancer?

The aim of IO therapy is to overcome functional barriers or alter the antitumour response to harness the immune system to kill cancer cells. This is a different approach than conventional chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, resulting in immunotherapy’s increasing recognition as the fourth pillar of cancer treatment.¹

Over the last few years, the number of available IO treatments has expanded rapidly to include numerous therapeutic approaches that touch a number of different pathways within the antitumour immune response.

Adapted from Butterfield et al., 2017.¹

An Overview of IO Approaches Available in Canada

Checkpoint Inhibitors

Present a widely studied immunotherapeutic approach that targets potential tumour escape mechanisms.¹
- Studies have demonstrated that tumours can exploit negative regulatory pathways—those used by the body naturally to control immune responses—in order to evade antitumour immunity.
- Checkpoint inhibitors, including small molecules and antibodies, have been shown to block this negative regulation to help the immune system recognize evasive tumour cells.
- Targets include CTLA-4, PD-1, and other counter-regulatory pathways.

CTLA-4=Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated Protein-4, PD-1=Programmed Cell Death Protein-1

Reference: 1. Butterfield, LH et al. Cancer Immunotherapy Principles and Practice. 2017. (Springer Publishing Company, Incorporated).

How Does IO Therapy Work?

Can We Target Specific Immune Pathways To Activate Immune Responses Against Cancer?

An Overview of IO Approaches Available in Canada