avelumab

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-000860",
  "term": "avelumab",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A drug that binds to the protein PD-L1 to help immune cells kill cancer cells better and is used to treat different types of cancer. Avelumab is used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of advanced renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer), urothelial cancer (a type of cancer in the bladder or urinary tract), and Merkel cell carcinoma (a rare type of skin cancer). It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Avelumab may block PD-L1 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody and a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also called Bavencio.",
    "A human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against the human immunosuppressive ligand programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein, with potential immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, avelumab binds to PD-L1 and prevents the interaction of PD-L1 with its receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). This inhibits the activation of PD-1 and its downstream signaling pathways. This may restore immune function through the activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) targeted to PD-L1-overexpressing tumor cells. In addition, avelumab induces an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic (ADCC) response against PD-L1-expressing tumor cells. PD-1, a cell surface receptor belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed on T-cells, negatively regulates T-cell activation and effector function when activated by its ligand, and plays an important role in tumor evasion from host immunity. PD-L1, a transmembrane protein, is overexpressed on a variety of tumor cell types and is associated with poor prognosis."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "Bavencio",
    "anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody MSB0010718C"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "immune checkpoint inhibitor"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/avelumab/"
}