Immune Dysfunction in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Avenues for New Immunotherapy-Based Strategies

The present review focuses on key aspects of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) evasion of immune surveillance and how these can be leveraged to devise effective immunotherapy strategies.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of cancer immunotherapy. In particular, the remarkable clinical results of anti-programmed death (PD)-1/PD-ligand (L)1 antibodies are revolutionizing the treatment approach to multiple solid and hematologic tumors. In patients with B or T cell NHL, immune checkpoint inhibition has produced mixed results, in part owing to the high complexity of the tumor immune microenvironment. Rationally designed combinations of PD-1/PD-L1 blockers with other antibody- or cell-based immunotherapies, or small molecules are being tested in clinical trials. A clearer understanding of the relationship between host immune dysfunction and cancer development and growth, often referred to as cancer "immuno-editing," has enabled the discovery and successful clinical application of several immunotherapeutic agents, such as the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).