James P Allison, Tasaku Honjo win Nobel Prize in medicine

James P Allison, 70, and Tasaku Honjo, 76, of Japan have jointly won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine this year.

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The two winners have been given the top prize for their work in discovering cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation.

"Allison and Honjo showed how different strategies for inhibiting the brakes on the immune system can be used in the treatment of cancer," the Nobel Assembly at Sweden's Karolinska Institute said.

"I want to continue my research ... so that this immune therapy will save more cancer patients than ever," Tasuku Honjo said after he was declared the winner of the prestigious award.

"On top of that, I am receiving such an award. I really feel I am a fortunate person," he said, adding, "Of course, I was very happy, delighted at the same time, but shocked."

Last year, the Nobel in medicine was won by three Americans - Michael W. Young, Michael Rosbash, Jeffrey C. Hall.

The Nobel jury said "for more than 100 years, scientists attempted to engage the immune system in the fight against cancer".

"Until the seminal discoveries by the two laureates, progress into clinical development was modest."

The coveted Nobel prize for Literature will not be announced this year after the #MeToo scandal hit the Nobel Academy.