Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2025

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
Regulatory T cells in immune checkpoint blockade antitumor therapy
An Zhang1, Tao Fan2, Yixiao Liu1
1Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, National Cancer Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
None:
Regulatory T cells (Tregs), an essential component of the human immune system, are a heterogeneous group of T lymphocytes with the ability to suppress immune responses and maintain immune homeostasis. Recent evidence indicates that Tregs may impair antitumor immunity and facilitate cancer progression by weakening functions of effector T cells (Teffs). Consequently, targeting Tregs to eliminate them from tumor microenvironments to improve Teffs' activity could emerge as an effective strategy for cancer immunotherapy. This review outlines the biology of Tregs, detailing their origins, classification, and crucial markers. Our focus lies on the complex role of Tregs in cancer's development, progression and treatment, particularly on their suppressive role upon antitumor responses via multiple mechanisms. We delve into Tregs' involvement in immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, their dual effect on cancer immunotherapy and their potential biomarkers for ICB therapy effectiveness. We also summarize advances in the therapies that adjust Tregs to optimize ICB therapy, which may be crucial for devising innovative cancer treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Immunotherapy
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
The Tumor Microenvironment
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity

