New Trends in Anti-Cancer Therapy: Combining Conventional Chemotherapeutics with Novel Immunomodulators
Amy L Wilson1,2,3, Magdalena Plebanski3, Andrew N Stephens1,2,4
1Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia.
Abstract:
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and current research has focused on the discovery of novel approaches to effectively treat this disease. Recently, a considerable number of clinical trials have demonstrated the success of immunomodulatory therapies for the treatment of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies can target components of the immune system to either i) agonise co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD137, OX40 and CD40; or ii) inhibit immune checkpoints, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its corresponding ligand PD-L1. Although tumour regression is the outcome for some patients following immunotherapy, many patients still do not respond. Furthermore, chemotherapy has been the standard of care for most cancers, but the immunomodulatory capacity of these drugs has only recently been uncovered. The ability of chemotherapy to modulate the immune system through a variety of mechanisms, including immunogenic cell death (ICD), increased antigen presentation and depletion of regulatory immune cells, highlights the potential for synergism between conventional chemotherapy and novel immunotherapy. In addition, recent pre-clinical trials indicate dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) enzyme inhibition, an enzyme that can regulate immune cell trafficking to the tumour microenvironment, as a novel cancer therapy. The present review focuses on the current immunological approaches for the treatment of cancer, and summarizes clinical trials in the field of immunotherapy as a single treatment and in combination with chemotherapy.
Insights
Novel cancer treatments combine immunotherapy with chemotherapy. Immunotherapy uses monoclonal antibodies to boost immune responses or block immune checkpoints, while chemotherapy
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading global cause of death, driving research into novel treatment strategies.
- Immunomodulatory therapies, including monoclonal antibodies targeting co-stimulatory molecules or immune checkpoints (CTLA-4, PD-1/PD-L1), show promise but have limited response rates.
- Chemotherapy, a standard cancer treatment, possesses immunomodulatory effects, including inducing immunogenic cell death and altering immune cell populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current immunological approaches for cancer treatment.
- To summarize clinical trials of immunotherapy as a standalone therapy and in combination with chemotherapy.
- To explore the potential of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) enzyme inhibition in cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical trials involving cancer immunotherapy.
- Analysis of chemotherapy's immunomodulatory mechanisms.
- Examination of pre-clinical data on DPP enzyme inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Immunotherapy, using monoclonal antibodies, can agonize co-stimulatory molecules or inhibit immune checkpoints.
- Chemotherapy exhibits immunomodulatory capabilities, suggesting potential synergistic effects when combined with immunotherapy.
- DPP enzyme inhibition is emerging as a novel therapeutic strategy by regulating immune cell trafficking.
Conclusions:
- Combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy offers a promising strategy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
- Understanding the immunomodulatory effects of chemotherapy enhances its potential in combination therapies.
- DPP enzyme inhibition represents a novel avenue for cancer treatment by modulating the tumor immune microenvironment.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
01:29Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents