Immunology beats cancer: a blueprint for successful translation

Abstract

Immunology offers an unprecedented opportunity for the science-driven development of therapeutics. The successes of antibodies to the immunomodulatory receptor CTLA-4 and blockade of the immunoinhibitory receptor PD-1 in cancer immunotherapy, from gene discovery to patient benefit, have created a paradigm for driving such endeavors.

Figure 1

Parallel timelines and milestones of the development of therapies involving anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1, from gene discovery through clinical development. The timelines for almost all major scientific and clinical advances are strikingly similar, offset only by about 5 years.