Nobel Prize for Medicine goes to cancer breakthrough pair

Two immunologists have been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their revolutionary research into cancer treatment.

James P. Allison, based at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and Japan’s Tasuku Honjo, from Kyoto University, are being given the prize for their “exciting and groundbreaking work on developing new types of immunotherapy that help our immune system fight cancer”, writes Sheena Cruickshank, a professor in biomedical sciences at Manchester University, in an article on The Conversation.

As The Guardian explains, the human immune system “normally seeks out and destroys mutated cells, but cancer finds sophisticated ways to hide from immune attacks”, in part by “ramping up braking mechanisms designed to prevent immune cells from attacking normal tissue”.

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Allison discovered the first of these built-in brakes, known as checkpoints, in the course of his immunology research in the early 1990s. But while other teams were investigating the potential of enhancing the action of checkpoints to treat autoimmune diseases, Allison was able to demonstrate that by disabling the brakes, medical experts could produce tangible results in treating cancer in mice.

Meanwhile, in 1992, Honjo independently discovered a second checkpoint, and conducted similar experiments.

The pair’s research led to a new approach, known as immune checkpoint theory, that has amounted to a “landmark in our fight against cancer”, the Sweden-based Nobel Committee said. Allison and Honjo have “revolutionised cancer treatment” and “fundamentally changed the way we view how cancer can be managed”, the five-strong panel continued.

The Guardian reports that the scientists’ discoveries have “paved the way for a new class of cancer drugs that are already dramatically changing outcomes for patients”.

After being informed yesterday that he had jointly won the prize, Allison told reporters in Houston: “I’m still in sort of a state of shock, and this is all still sinking in. I was told by the Nobel Committee when I was called this morning that this was the first prize they’ve ever given for cancer therapy.

“I'd like to just give a shout out to all the patients out there who are suffering from cancer to let them know that we are making progress now.”

Honjo, who began his research after a medical school classmate died from stomach cancer, said: “I want to continue my research so that this immune therapy will save more cancer patients than ever.”

Allison and Honjo will be honoured at an official Nobel ceremony in Stockholm in December, and will share the nine million Swedish kronor (£775,000) prize money.