Immunotherapy, which harnesses a person’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, has emerged as a promising treatment option for people with non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease. Since lung cancer has a tendency to return after treatment, meaningful and innovative options are critical for patients.
“As we move forward in the lung cancer space, the science … is rapidly evolving,” Arun Krishna, AstraZeneca's Vice President, Head of U.S. Lung Cancer Franchise, told SurvivorNet.
Read MoreThe Power of Checkpoint Inhibitors
Imfinzi is a type of immunotherapy called a checkpoint inhibitor. This class of drugs has significantly advanced the field of cancer immunotherapy, providing new treatment options and improving outcomes for many patients.
It works by targeting a protein called PD-L1 on the surface of cancer cells. When these cells bind to the PD-1 protein found on certain healthy cells, a signal is sent out that puts the “brakes” on the immune system.
This prevents immune cells from attacking the cancer effectively.
Imfinzi blocks the binding of PD-L1 and PD-1, essentially removing the brakes on the immune system. This then allows immune cells to properly recognize the cancer and launch a stronger attack against it.
What’s even more exciting is that Imfinzi has shown promising results in other cancers as well, such as bladder and liver cancers.
This demonstrates the potential for Imfinzi’s innovative approach to benefit a much wider population of patients.
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