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An international team involving Vanderbilt researchers has discovered that a new \u201ccheckpoint\u201d protein on immune system cells is active in tumors, and that blocking it \u2014 in combination with other treatments \u2014 is a successful therapeutic approach in mouse models of cancer. The findings were reported in the journal\u00a0Cell<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Checkpoint proteins are regulators of the immune response; they put on the \u201cbrakes\u201d to protect normal tissues. Checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies take these brakes off, unleashing the immune system\u2019s cancer-killing power. They have been remarkably effective against a number of cancers.<\/p>\n Currently available checkpoint inhibitors target one of two immune system checkpoint pathways, but many more checkpoint proteins exist, said Michael Korrer, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow working with\u00a0Young J. Kim<\/a>, MD, PhD, Barry and Amy Baker Professor of Laryngeal, Head and Neck Research at Vanderbilt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n