Definition

A drug that binds to the protein CTLA-4 to help immune cells kill cancer cells better and is used to treat many different types of cancer. These include cancers that have certain mutations (changes) in genes involved in DNA repair. Ipilimumab is used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer), malignant pleural mesothelioma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer). It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Ipilimumab may block CTLA-4 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody and a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also called MDX-010 and Yervoy.