Immunogenic cell death in cancer immunotherapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Cancer immunotherapy offers a new treatment paradigm but faces challenges with low response rates in solid tumors.
• Solid tumors often exhibit low immunogenicity, creating an 'immune desert' that hinders anti-tumor immunity from the start.
• Combination therapies are being explored to overcome these limitations by increasing tumor immunogenicity.

Approach:

• This review focuses on immunogenic cell death (ICD) as a strategy to enhance tumor immunogenicity.
• It examines how specific ICD pathways, including necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, can bolster anti-tumor immune responses.
• The review also outlines ongoing clinical trials targeting ICD and discusses the potential of ICD inducers.

Key Points:

• Immunogenic cell death (ICD) pathways like necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis can convert 'cold tumors' into 'hot tumors' by releasing tumor antigens and danger signals.
• ICD promotes the infiltration and activation of immune cells, particularly T cells, within the tumor microenvironment.
• Targeting ICD represents a promising approach to sensitize tumors to existing immunotherapies.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing tumor immunogenicity through ICD is crucial for improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in solid tumors.
• ICD inducers hold significant potential as adjuvants to T-cell-based therapies.
• Further clinical investigation into ICD-targeting strategies is warranted to optimize cancer treatment outcomes.