Targeting protein kinases benefits cancer immunotherapy

Zhengkun Zhang1, Lang Bu2, Junhang Luo3

  • 1Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Institute of Precision Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.

Insights

Combining kinase inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) shows promise for cancer therapy. This approach targets drug resistance and enhances anti-tumor immunity by modulating the tumor microenvironment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Small-molecule kinase inhibitors are established cancer therapies.
  • Drug resistance limits the clinical efficacy of kinase inhibitors.
  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the role of protein kinases in immune checkpoint regulation.
  • To explore the combination of kinase inhibitors and ICIs for cancer therapy.
  • To highlight strategies for improving cancer immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of scientific literature.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for combined therapies.
  • Evaluation of kinase roles in immune modulation and tumor microenvironment.

Main Results:

  • Protein kinases significantly influence immune checkpoints on tumor and immune cells.
  • Combined kinase inhibitor and ICI therapy demonstrates promising clinical outcomes across various cancers.
  • This combination strategy can evoke innate immune responses and enhance neoantigen presentation.

Conclusions:

  • Kinase inhibitors can overcome resistance to immunotherapy.
  • Targeting protein kinases enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
  • Combined therapies offer a promising strategy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

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.
677
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.1K
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

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...
523
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.9K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.0K