immune checkpoint inhibitor

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-004198",
  "term": "immune checkpoint inhibitor",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definition": "A type of drug that blocks proteins called checkpoints that are made by some types of immune system cells, such as T cells, and some cancer cells. These checkpoints help keep immune responses from being too strong and sometimes can keep T cells from killing cancer cells. When these checkpoints are blocked, T cells can kill cancer cells better. Examples of checkpoint proteins found on T cells or cancer cells include PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4/B7-1/B7-2. Some immune checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat cancer.",
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/immune-checkpoint-inhibitor/"
}