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Immune evader cancer stem cells direct the perspective approaches to cancer immunotherapy

Hassan Dianat-Moghadam1, Amir Mahari2, Reza Salahlou3

  • 1Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Dianat.h@med.mui.ac.ir.

Stem Cell Research & Therapy
|April 9, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), hindering immunotherapy. Understanding CSCs

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors and cell-based immunotherapies have improved cancer treatment outcomes.
  • However, poor clinical efficacy in some tumors is linked to the complex tumor microenvironment (TME), cellular heterogeneity, and cancer stem cells (CSCs).
  • CSCs possess unique characteristics that enable tumor immune evasion and resistance to therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of immune cells in CSC-mediated tumor immune evasion.
  • To discuss CSC mechanisms that promote resistance to cancer immunotherapy.
  • To outline potential immunotherapeutic interventions and nanomedicine applications.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on CSCs and tumor immunity.
  • Analysis of CSC-immune cell crosstalk and its impact on the TME.
  • Exploration of therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs and immune modulation.

Main Results:

  • CSCs actively shape an immunosuppressive TME, fostering tumor growth and progression.
  • CSCs employ intrinsic mechanisms to resist conventional therapies and immunotherapies.
  • Immune cells can be co-opted by CSCs to evade anti-tumor immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting the immunological features of CSCs is crucial for developing effective cancer immunotherapies.
  • Understanding CSC-immune cell interactions can reveal novel therapeutic targets.
  • Nanomedicine offers a promising approach for controlled immune modulation in cancer treatment.
Keywords:
CAR NK cellsCAR T cellCancer stem cellsImmune evasionNano-immunotherapyTumor microenvironment

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