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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Cancer J. 2014 Jul-Aug;20(4):256–261. doi: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000061

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Mechanism of B7-H1/PD-1 pathway immune evasion. B7-H1/PD-1 pathway has been established as a major mechanism in the resistance of tumor to T cells’ attack. It is probable that a combination of mechanism, rather than a single model of action, can explain this resistance. B7-H1–positive tumor and tumor-associated cells might induce T cell apoptosis, anergy, functional exhaustion, or IL-10 production. Inducible B7-H1 expression by tumor cells in contact with CTLs acts as a “molecular shield” protecting tumor cells from cytotoxic lysis. Even though these mechanisms have been demonstrated in animal models, clinical significance in cancer patients remains poorly studied.