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Neutralizing tumor-promoting chronic inflammation: a magic bullet?

Lisa M Coussens1, Laurence Zitvogel, A Karolina Palucka

  • 1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. coussenl@ohsu.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Recent cancer therapies target genetic aberrations and tumor vascularization. New immunotherapeutics leverage the understanding that certain immune cells promote tumor growth, offering novel strategies to combat cancer-associated inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Cancer diagnostics and therapies have advanced significantly over the last decade.
  • Current treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, targeting cancer cell-intrinsic mediators, and modulating cancer cell-extrinsic pathways.
  • Immunotherapeutics have emerged, recognizing the role of chronically activated immune cells in fostering tumor development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical and experimental studies on the protumorigenic roles of immune cells in cancer-associated inflammation.
  • To discuss the potential of targeting these immune cells to reprogram their function.
  • To explore how reprogramming immune cells can neutralize chronic inflammation and facilitate cancer rejection.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical studies.
  • Analysis of experimental studies.
  • Delineation of protumorigenic roles of immune cell subsets.
  • Discussion of targeting strategies for immune cell reprogramming.

Main Results:

  • Identified specific immune cell subsets that play protumorigenic roles in cancer-associated inflammation.
  • Highlighted that these immune cells can be targeted to alter their function.
  • Demonstrated that reprogramming these cells can resolve or neutralize cancer-promoting inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting immune cell subsets involved in chronic inflammation offers a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • Reprogramming these cells can lead to the resolution of cancer-promoting inflammation.
  • This approach facilitates cancer rejection and improves therapeutic outcomes.

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