Turning cold tumors hot: from molecular mechanisms to clinical applications

Jiahui Zhang1, Di Huang1, Phei Er Saw2

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Insights

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is effective, but many tumors are unresponsive. Understanding immune evasion and tumor immunotyping are key to converting

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies show promise but are ineffective against most 'immune-cold' solid tumors.
  • Diverse immune evasion mechanisms hinder the conversion of nonresponsive 'cold' tumors into responsive 'hot' tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore mechanisms driving the transition of cold tumors to hot tumors.
  • To highlight the importance of tumor immunotyping for developing effective cancer immunotherapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of latest advances in local and systemic immune response regulation in cold and hot tumors.
  • Discussion of tumor immunotyping via assessment of immunological variables and biomarkers.
  • Analysis of diagnostic techniques for tumor immunophenotyping.

Main Results:

  • Identified key regulatory mechanisms influencing immune responses in different tumor microenvironments.
  • Emphasized the critical role of comprehensive immunotyping in predicting therapeutic response.
  • Highlighted the potential of immunophenotyping to guide combination immunotherapies.

Conclusions:

  • Converting 'cold' tumors to 'hot' tumors requires understanding complex immune evasion strategies.
  • Tumor immunotyping is essential for tailoring effective therapeutic strategies against cancer.
  • Further research into immunophenotyping can unlock new avenues for combined immunotherapies and improve patient outcomes.

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