Tumor Vessel Normalization: A Window to Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy
Sai Li1, Qi Zhang2, Yupeng Hong3
1Department of gynecologic oncology, Women's hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment
|December 8, 2020
Summary
Abnormal tumor blood vessels create a hostile microenvironment. Normalizing these vessels with anti-angiogenesis drugs, followed by immunotherapy, can improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Vascular Biology
- Cancer Immunology
Background:
- Tumor blood vessels are abnormal, causing hypoxia, low pH, and high pressure, which promotes tumor growth and treatment resistance.
- Imbalances in pro-angiogenic factors like VEGF and anti-angiogenic factors like angiopoietin 2 (ANG2) drive these vascular abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the concept of tumor vessel normalization windows in cancer treatment.
- To explore the combination of anti-angiogenesis therapy and cancer immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on tumor angiogenesis, vessel normalization, and combination therapies.
- Analysis of the interplay between anti-angiogenic agents and immune checkpoint blockers.
Main Results:
- Anti-angiogenesis drugs can transiently normalize aberrant tumor vasculature, creating a therapeutic window.
- Combining immunotherapy with anti-angiogenesis during this window enhances treatment efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Targeting tumor vessel normalization is a promising strategy to improve cancer treatment.
- Optimizing the timing and combination of anti-angiogenic agents and immunotherapy is crucial for better patient outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
888
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
888
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
7.3K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.3K
01:30Cancer Vaccines
665
Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
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...
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...
665