Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment with biotechnology

• Published in: Biomaterials research Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 5 - 23
• Main Authors: Kim, Minjeong, Lee, Na Kyeong, Wang, Chi-Pin James, Lim, Jaesung, Byun, Min Ji, Kim, Tae-Hyung, Park, Wooram, Park, Dae-Hwan, Kim, Se-Na, Park, Chun Gwon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 31.01.2023; BioMed Central Ltd; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); 한국생체재료학회
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphate; Amino acids; Antigens; Biological products; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Biotechnology; Cancer therapies; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemotherapy; Combination treatment; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Development and progression; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Glucose metabolism; Hydrogels; Immune response; Immunoregulation; Immunotherapy; Lipids; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Macrophages; Materials Science; Metabolic pathways; Metastases; Nanoparticle; Nanoparticles; Phenotypes; Physiological aspects; Polyethylene glycol; Polymers; Reprogramming; Review; T cells; Toll-like receptors; Tumor cells; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; Tumorigenesis; Tumors; 의공학; Combination treatment; Reprogramming; Tumor microenvironment; Nanoparticle; Biomaterials
• ISSN: 2055-7124; 1226-4601; 2055-7124
• DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00343-4

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a unique environment that is developed by the tumor and controlled by tumor-induced interactions with host cells during tumor progression. The TME includes immune cells, which can be classified into two types: tumor- antagonizing and tumor-promoting immune cells. Increasing the tumor treatment responses is associated with the tumor immune microenvironment. Targeting the TME has become a popular topic in research, which includes polarizing macrophage phenotype 2 into macrophage phenotype 1 using Toll-like receptor agonists with cytokines, anti-CD47, and anti-SIPRα. Moreover, inhibiting regulatory T cells through blockades and depletion restricts immunosuppressive cells in the TME. Reprogramming T cell infiltration and T cell exhaustion improves tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, such as CD8 + or CD4 + T cells. Targeting metabolic pathways, including glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolisms, can suppress tumor growth by restricting the absorption of nutrients and adenosine triphosphate energy into tumor cells. In conclusion, these TME reprogramming strategies exhibit more effective responses using combination treatments, biomaterials, and nanoparticles. This review highlights how biomaterials and immunotherapy can reprogram TME and improve the immune activity.