The drug Nivolumab (anti-PD-1) has been successfully tested in the fight against advanced and unresponsive treatment with other methods of melanoma, renal cell carcinoma or non-small cell lung cancer, MedicalXpress reported.

According to the source, scientists from the Cancer Immunotherapy Institute at the Johns Hopkins Cancer Center (USA) tested 270 patients. According to long-term trials, the 5-year survival rates for taking Nivolumab were higher than for other types of therapy available in 2008, including chemotherapy, kinase inhibitors, biological therapy and other therapies.

With conventional therapy of patients with stage 4 skin cancer, the 5-year survival rate was only 5%, and with non-small cell lung cancer, 6%. Nivolumab significantly increased these rates: the drug contributed to 34.2% survival for melanoma, 27.7% for renal cell carcinoma and 15.6% for lung cancer.

Nivolumab blocks the activity of the PD-1 molecule. This molecule is an immune checkpoint that inhibits cells attacking a cancer.