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Treatment Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI)

What is immune checkpoint inhibitor* (ICI) therapy?

• Cancer cells are abnormal. Our immune system is supposed to kill abnormal cells. Cancer cells can disguise themselves
as healthy cells. When they do, our immune system is tricked and can confuse cancer cells for normal cells.

• Our immune system has “on” and “off” switches. When cancer cells disguise themselves as normal cells, the immune
system is switched “off”.

• ICI treatment turns the immune system back ”on” so the immune system can hopefully identify and kill the cancer cells.

Why this treatment?

• You and your doctor have reviewed the various treatment options for your type of cancer

• Part of your treatment includes an infusion into the vein with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)

• ICI therapy has been shown in studies to reduce tumour size, reduce cancer symptoms and extend life in some
patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

• Examples of ICI include ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab

* You may also see the term immuno-oncology (IO) used when referring to ICI.

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