Emerging strategies in cancer therapy combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 454; pp. 191 - 203
• Main Authors: Luo, Qiuhua, Zhang, Ling, Luo, Cong, Jiang, Mingyan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 10.07.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; B7-H1 Antigen - antagonists & inhibitors; B7-H1 Antigen - immunology; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer immunotherapy; Cancer therapies; Cell death; Chemo-immunotherapy; Chemotherapy; Clinical trials; Combined strategy; CTLA-4 Antigen - antagonists & inhibitors; CTLA-4 Antigen - immunology; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Humans; Immune system; Immunogenic cell death; Immunogenic chemotherapy; Immunogenicity; Immunosuppression; Immunosuppressive agents; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy - methods; Ligands; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Medical research; Neoantigens; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - therapy; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - antagonists & inhibitors; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - immunology; Synergistic effect; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumors; Cancer immunotherapy; Combined strategy; Immunogenic cell death; Chemo-immunotherapy; Immunogenic chemotherapy
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.04.017

Cancer immunotherapy holds great potential to battle cancer by exerting a durable immunity effect. However, this process might be limited by various constraints existing in the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as the lack of available neoantigen, insufficient T cells from the naive repertoire, or immunosuppressive networks in which immunogenic tissue is protected from immune attacks. Certain chemotherapeutic drugs could elicit immune-potentiating effects by either inducing immunogenicity or relieving tumor-induced immunosuppression. Some also leave tumors directly susceptible to cytotoxic T cell attacks. Mounting evidence accumulated from preclinical and clinical studies suggests that these two treatment modalities might be mutually reinforcing as an effective “chemo-immunotherapy” strategy. Herein, we reviewed the latest advances in cancer immunotherapy and related mechanisms involved in chemotherapeutic-mediated immune activation. The emerging combination strategies and synergistic effects in response to chemo-immunotherapy are highlighted. We also discuss the challenges and critical considerations in its future development. •This review presents the latest advances and mechanisms involved in chemo-immunotherapy.•This review proposes a design strategy with emerging strategies, including cascade-, spatial- and co-delivery pattern.•Challenges and future perspectives of integrating the combination of immuno-chemo therapies are highlighted.