HEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING

Anti–PD-1 and PD-L1 therapy

Source: Melanoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: May 2, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary.

Context: Treatment of Unresectable Stage III, Stage IV, and Recurrent Melanoma / Treatment Options for Unresectable Stage III, Stage IV, and Recurrent Melanoma / Immunotherapy / Checkpoint inhibitors

The PD-1 pathway is a key immunoinhibitory mediator of T-cell exhaustion. Blockade of this pathway can lead to T-cell activation, expansion, and enhanced effector functions. PD-1 has two ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two anti–PD-1 antibodies, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, based on improved OS in randomized trials.

Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice