The Janus face of cyclophosphamide: A sterile inflammatory response that potentiates cancer immunotherapy

Cyclophosphamide, within well-defined therapeutic regimens, increases the antineoplastic effects of immunotherapy. We have recently identified multiple factors and mechanisms that underlie the paradoxical synergy between these two treatment modalities. In particular, we found that cyclophosphamide stimulates anticancer immune responses upon the perception by the immune system of inflammatory danger signals associated with the death of leukocytes, via p53 and type I interferon-related mechanisms.