Fig. 2

Mechanisms of action of certain immunotherapeutic drugs. Schematic representation of the mechanisms of action of various immunotherapeutic drugs in the tumor microenvironment. Drugs intervene on T cells, APCs, and NK cells ligands and receptors to modulate immune responses against tumor cells. Abatacept blocks the interaction between CD28 on T cells and CD80/86 on APCs, inhibiting T cell activation. Ipilimumab targets CTLA-4 on T cells, preventing it from competing with CD28 for CD80/86 on APCs, thereby promoting T cell activation. Pembrolizumab binds to PD-1 on T cells, preventing its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2 on tumor cells, which would otherwise lead to T cell inhibition. Tiragolumab targets TIGIT on T cells, blocking its interaction with PVR on tumor cells, and similarly preventing T cell inhibition. Monalizumab binds to NKG2A on NK cells, blocking its interaction with HLA-E on tumor cells, which enhances NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Varlilumab facilitates attack on tumor cells through CD27. Relatlimab inhibits LAG-3 on T cells, preventing it from binding to FGL1 on tumor cells, thus averting T cell exhaustion