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Cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. According to the latest data from the National Cancer Center, China saw approximately 4.064 million new cancer cases and 2.4135 million deaths in 2016. These staggering numbers highlight the immense threat cancer poses to global health and underscore the urgency of finding effective treatments.
The Importance of Immune Checkpoints
Cancer's ability to "hijack" immune checkpoints on immune cells is a significant reason for its combat difficulty. Recently, the rise of immunotherapy has brought new hope to cancer treatment. By targeting these immune checkpoints, scientists have developed a series of innovative therapies that offer patients new life and create substantial market value for pharmaceutical companies. For example, Merck's PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (commonly known as K-drug) achieved impressive sales of $20.937 billion in 2022, showcasing the market potential and efficacy of immune checkpoint therapies.
Definition of Immune Checkpoints
Immune checkpoints (ICs) are crucial regulatory factors expressed on immune cells. Their primary function is to regulate the activation level of the immune system, keeping it within an appropriate range. This regulatory mechanism effectively defends against pathogen invasion and prevents excessive immune responses and autoimmune diseases. However, abnormal expression and function of immune checkpoint molecules can lead to various diseases, including cancer.