Key Point 1: Discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation

James P. Allison and Tuscoo Honjo have been jointly awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation. Allison, based at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Honjo, based at Kyoto University, have made groundbreaking advancements in cancer treatment by focusing on the breaks, or checkpoints, of the host immune system instead of targeting the cancer cells directly. This approach represents a paradigm shift and a significant milestone in the fight against cancer.