exploring the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors in veterinary medicine

This study aims to explore the role of immune checkpoints in cancer therapy, focusing on mechanisms by which cancer cells exploit these pathways to evade immune surveillance and the therapeutic potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors (icis). the emerging application of icis in veterinary oncology, particularly for canine cancers, is also examined. a comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and the clinical efficacy of icis in both human and veterinary oncology. a systematic search of databases including pubmed, scopus, and web of science was performed, focusing on articles published from 2010 to 2024. keywords such as programmed cell death protein 1 , immune checkpoints” and immune checkpoint inhibitors were used. studies were selected based on their relevance to icis in cancer treatment, including detailed clinical outcomes and safety data. cancer cells evade immune destruction by expressing programmed cell death ligand 1 (pd-l1) and engaging immune checkpoints. inhibitors such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab (targeting pd-1) and ipilimumab (targeting ctla-4) have shown success in reactivating t cells and enhancing anti-tumor immunity in human cancers. early veterinary studies indicate the potential effectiveness of these inhibitors in treating canine cancers, although challenges such as optimizing dosage, identifying predictive biomarkers, and managing side effects remain. immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment in humans and show promise for improving the treatment of canine cancers. ongoing research is crucial to fully understand and overcome the associated challenges in veterinary applications. by bridging the gap between human and veterinary oncology, we can leverage comparative oncology to advance our understanding and treatment of cancer across species.