Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Bone Metastases: Specific Microenvironment and Current Situation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cancer Metastasis

Background:

• Bone metastases present significant treatment challenges.
• Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), shows promise for unresectable bone metastases.
• Understanding the tumor immune microenvironment in bone metastasis is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the characteristics of bone metastases and their immune microenvironment.
• To summarize research progress on the immunological mechanisms of tumor bone metastasis.
• To discuss the clinical application of ICIs for bone metastases in common cancers.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Analysis of immunological mechanisms.
• Review of clinical applications of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Main Results:

• Discussion of bone metastasis-immune microenvironment interactions.
• Review of ICI efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, melanoma, and breast cancer.
• Identification of current research deficiencies and limitations.

Conclusions:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a key immunotherapy for bone metastases.
• Further basic research and clinical treatment optimization are necessary.
• Targeting the immune microenvironment holds potential for improved outcomes.