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Regulatory T cells: Their role in triple-negative breast cancer progression and metastasis

Rama Rao Malla1,2, Padmaraju Vasudevaraju2, Rahul Kumar Vempati2

  • 1Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, Institute of Science, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, India.

Cancer
|January 6, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive and drug-resistant due to tumor-infiltrating regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Targeting these Tregs offers a novel strategy to enhance antitumor immunity and combat TNBC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks hormone or HER2 receptors, making it aggressive and challenging to treat.
  • TNBC exhibits drug resistance and early recurrence, partly due to tumor-infiltrating regulatory T-cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
  • Tumor-infiltrating Tregs create an immunosuppressive TME, hindering effective antitumor immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of tumor-infiltrating Tregs in TNBC progression and TME metabolic reprogramming.
  • To explore oncotargeting Treg-mediated immune suppression as a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
  • To identify potential therapeutic agents, including existing drugs and natural compounds, for modulating Treg activity in TNBC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on Treg infiltration in TNBC.
  • Analysis of Treg mechanisms in immune suppression and metabolic reprogramming within the TME.
  • Exploration of laboratory and clinical data on agents targeting Tregs.

Main Results:

  • Tregs play a significant role in shielding TNBC from immune attack within the TME.
  • Treg activity contributes to tumor progression and metabolic alterations in the TME.
  • Modulating Treg activity presents a promising avenue for novel TNBC therapeutics.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding Treg function in TNBC is crucial for developing effective immunotherapies.
  • Targeting Tregs offers a strategic approach to overcome immune suppression in TNBC.
  • Further investigation into Treg-targeting agents holds potential for improving TNBC treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
T-regulatory cells (Tregs)inhibitorstherapeuticstriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)tumor microenvironment

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