How did Honjo's discovery impact cancer treatment?
Honjo's identification of PD-1 led to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a class of drugs that block the PD-1 pathway. These inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo), have transformed the treatment landscape for several types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma. By blocking PD-1, these drugs enable the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
