Immune modulation in malignant pleural effusion: from microenvironment to therapeutic implications.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Thoracic Medicine

Background:

• Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common, invasive complication of thoracic malignancies, often leading to poor prognosis and reduced quality of life.
• Current MPE treatments are primarily palliative, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies.
• The tumor immune microenvironment plays a critical role in MPE development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the mechanisms by which the immune microenvironment influences malignant pleural effusion.
• To explore the clinical significance of immune microenvironmental components in MPE immunotherapy and prognosis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of the PubMed database using keyword searches.
• Screening, sorting, and full-text review of retrieved articles.
• Analysis of 238 relevant studies focusing on immune cell, cytokine, and molecular target interactions.

Main Results:

• The immune microenvironment, comprising adaptive and innate immune cells, cytokines, and molecular targets, significantly affects MPE.
• Interactions within the MPE immune microenvironment influence disease progression and patient outcomes.
• Specific components of the immune microenvironment hold potential for targeted immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

• The immune microenvironment is a crucial factor in the pathogenesis and progression of malignant pleural effusion.
• Targeting the immune microenvironment presents a promising avenue for novel immunotherapies for MPE.
• Further research into immune microenvironmental components can improve prognostic assessments and treatment strategies for MPE patients.