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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
07:04
Identifying PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors with Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology
Published on: May 2, 2025
328
Phytochemicals in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 and immune checkpoint blockade therapy
Qi Zhang1, Chenying Yang2, Xingsu Gao1
1Department of Public Health, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Phytotherapy Research : PTR
|December 5, 2023
Summary
Phytochemicals, natural compounds from plants, enhance cancer immunotherapy by targeting immune checkpoints like PD-1/PD-L1. Combining phytochemicals with immune checkpoint inhibitors boosts anti-tumor effects and T-cell infiltration.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Immune checkpoint blockade is a key cancer therapy.
- Combining therapies aims to improve efficacy and reduce side effects.
- Phytochemicals show anti-cancer properties and modulate the tumor microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review immune checkpoint molecules as cancer therapeutic targets.
- To assess phytochemicals' impact on PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoints.
- To document combination effects of phytochemicals and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical and preclinical studies.
- Analysis of phytochemicals' effects on cancer cell lines and in vivo models.
- Examination of phytochemicals' modulation of tumor microenvironment and immune cells.
Main Results:
- Phytochemicals exhibit antiproliferative, proapoptotic, anti-migratory, and antiangiogenic effects.
- Phytochemicals decrease programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression.
- Combined phytochemicals and PD-1 inhibitors enhance tumor growth inhibition and T-cell infiltration.
Conclusions:
- Phytochemicals represent a promising strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapy.
- Targeting PD-1/PD-L1 with phytochemicals and inhibitors offers synergistic anti-cancer effects.
- Further research into phytochemical-based combination therapies is warranted for various malignancies.
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