Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells: Therapeutic Target for Gastrointestinal Cancers

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are difficult to treat with current methods.
• The tumor microenvironment is critical for GI cancer progression.
• Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) significantly impact GI cancer pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the role of MDSCs in GI cancers.
• To identify MDSCs as potential therapeutic targets.
• To review the clinical trial landscape for novel GI cancer therapeutics targeting MDSCs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of MDSC function in GI cancers.
• Analysis of preclinical models defining MDSC targets.
• Review of completed and ongoing clinical trials for MDSC-targeted therapies.

Main Results:

• MDSCs are crucial drivers of GI cancer progression.
• Multiple strategies exist to target MDSCs, including blocking recruitment, promoting differentiation, depletion, metabolic alteration, and direct function inhibition.
• A growing number of clinical trials are investigating novel MDSC-targeted therapeutics.

Conclusions:

• MDSCs represent a viable and important therapeutic target for GI malignancies.
• Targeting MDSCs holds promise for improving treatment outcomes in GI cancers.
• Further research and clinical trials are essential to fully realize the potential of MDSC-targeted therapies.