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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
In Vivo Immunogenicity Screening of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles by Flow Cytometry of Splenic T Cells
Published on: September 23, 2021
Mechanisms of tumor evasion
Michael Campoli1, Soldano Ferrone, Arnold H Zea
1Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
Abstract:
The results from in vitro immunological experiments, murine tumor models and patients with cancer clearly demonstrate that tumors have multiple mechanisms to evade the immune response. During the early stages of tumor development malignant cells can be poor stimulators, present poor targets or become resistant to the innate immune response, while at later stages, progressively growing tumors impair the adaptive immune response by blocking the maturation and function of antigen presenting cells and causing alterations in T cell signal transduction and function. Preliminary results also suggest a correlation between some of these changes and an increased metastatic potential of the tumor cells, a diminished response to immunotherapy, and poor prognosis. Carefully coordinated basic research studies and clinical immunotherapy trials will be required to fully determine the impact on the outcome of the disease and the response to treatment. However, understanding the mechanisms used by tumor cells to evade the immune system could result in new therapeutic approaches for preventing and/or reversing these immune alterations and have the potential of improving the current results of immunotherapy trials.
Insights
Tumors employ multiple immune evasion strategies, hindering both innate and adaptive immunity. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing novel immunotherapies and improving cancer treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Tumors develop sophisticated mechanisms to evade the host immune response.
- Immune evasion strategies are employed throughout tumor development, from early stages to progressive growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the multifaceted mechanisms by which tumors evade immune surveillance.
- To explore the correlation between tumor immune evasion and clinical outcomes, including metastasis and immunotherapy response.
Main Methods:
- In vitro immunological experiments
- Murine tumor models
- Analysis of patients with cancer
Main Results:
- Tumor cells exhibit poor stimulatory capacity, present weak targets, and resist innate immunity early on.
- Progressive tumors impair adaptive immunity by affecting antigen-presenting cells and T cell function.
- Tumor immune evasion correlates with increased metastatic potential, reduced immunotherapy response, and poor prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Elucidating tumor immune evasion mechanisms is vital for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
- Targeting these evasion strategies offers potential for novel therapeutic approaches to improve treatment efficacy.
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