ipilimumab

Definition: Ipilimumab is a fully human antibody that binds to CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4), a molecule on Helper T cells that is believed to play a critical role in regulating natural immune responses.

Ipilimumab (also known as MDX-010 or MDX-101) is a human monoclonal antibody being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb. It is intended to be used as a drug to activate the immune system.

Ipilimumab is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of melanoma, non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

The absence or presence of CTLA-4 can augment or suppress the immune system’s T-cell response in fighting disease. Ipilimumab is designed to block the activity of CTLA-4, thereby sustaining an active immune response in its attack on cancer cells.

Pathology

 ipilimumab-induced colitis

• image: https://twitter.com/GIPathologyURMC/status/715943975526522880

See also

 therapeutic antibody
 immunotherapy
 anti-CTLA4s / CTLA-4 blockade

• tremelimumab
• ipilimumab