Introduction to PD-1 Therapy
For over three decades, Jerry Jones has bet big on the Dallas Cowboys. But one of his biggest gambles may have come off the gridiron. In the late 2010s, the Cowboys owner and general manager decided to take an experimental drug after being diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma, an advanced form of skin cancer that has spread throughout the body.
This “miracle” drug, he said this week, is called PD-1 therapy. “I went into trials for that PD-1 and it has been one of the great medicines. I now have no tumors.” Programmed cell death protein 1, or PD-1 for short, is like a stop sign that tells immune cells not to attack healthy cells. But blocking it in cancer encourages the immune system to fight tumors.
How PD-1 Therapy Works
PD-1 and its partner protein, PD-L1, are found on cell surfaces. When PD-L1 latches onto PD-1 on a T cell, it hits the brakes on that immune cell’s activity, preventing friendly fire against healthy tissues. PD-1 was discovered in 1992 by Dr. Tasuku Honjo, a Japanese physician-scientist at Kyoto University. That discovery, along with that of another protein called CTLA-4 by James Allison, now at MD Anderson, would earn the scientists a joint Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2018.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones poses for photos on the blue carpet for the premiere of Netflix’s “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 11, 2025.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
Benefits of PD-1 Therapy
Because of PD-1 drugs, survival from some cancers has improved dramatically. Nowadays, for example, the 10-year survival for melanoma is over 50%, amounting to an almost tenfold increase, Tawbi said. “It’s all because of these immune checkpoint inhibitors and immunotherapy developed because of clinical trials.”
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones responds to questions from the media following a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams at training camp in Oxnard, Calif., Aug. 5, 2025.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
Side Effects of PD-1 Therapy
Like any cancer treatment, PD-1 therapies have side effects, Tawbi said. Jones, for example, told reporters after the Cowboys’ training camp practice on Wednesday that the therapy “ate [his] hips up,” requiring him to get both replaced. As concerning as that sounds, PD-1 drugs are well-tolerated overall and the rate of severe side effects is rare, McArthur said.
While side effects can vary, some include dysfunctional thyroid hormone changes, inflammation of the pituitary gland (which can cause diabetes in some people) and inflammation of the lungs or gastrointestinal tract. These effects are known today because of the cancer patients who took a gamble on early clinical trials.
Conclusion
PD-1 therapy has been a game-changer for many cancer patients, including Jerry Jones. The treatment has improved survival rates for some cancers and has given patients a new hope for recovery. While it may have side effects, the benefits of PD-1 therapy far outweigh the risks. As research continues to advance, we can expect to see even more improvements in cancer treatment and a better understanding of how PD-1 therapy works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is PD-1 therapy?
A: PD-1 therapy is a type of cancer treatment that works by blocking the PD-1 protein, which helps the immune system fight cancer cells.
Q: How does PD-1 therapy work?
A: PD-1 therapy works by blocking the PD-1 protein, which allows the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It is typically used to treat melanoma, but it can also be used to treat other types of cancer.
Q: What are the benefits of PD-1 therapy?
A: The benefits of PD-1 therapy include improved survival rates for some cancers, reduced tumor size, and improved quality of life. It can also be used in combination with other treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Q: What are the side effects of PD-1 therapy?
A: The side effects of PD-1 therapy can include dysfunctional thyroid hormone changes, inflammation of the pituitary gland, and
