CTLA-4 Antibodies in Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

Activating human immune system to battle cancer has been a focus of cancer immunotherapy research from quite some time. After decades of disappointment, the tide has finally changed with some recent successes in clinical trials. The first such approach with clinical success is cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody therapy which aims to relieve the immune suppressive effects of CTLA-4 on T cells which are specifically aimed to fight cancer. CTLA-4 antibody therapy has enhanced the survival of patients suffering from late stage refractory metastatic melanoma. The success of CTLA-4 antibody therapy has cemented cancer immunotherapy potential in patients and even swayed away skeptics.