Targeting ILT4 to Improve Immunotherapy Efficacy in Solid Tumour: From Bench to Bedside

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy but show limited efficacy in solid tumors.
• The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) hinders ICI effectiveness, necessitating novel therapeutic targets.
• Immunoglobulin-like transcript 4 (ILT4) is an inhibitory molecule implicated in tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in understanding ILT4 function within the TME.
• To summarize translational research on therapeutic ILT4 antibodies.
• To highlight clinical data on ILT4 blockade for enhancing immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of ILT4 research.
• Analysis of translational studies on ILT4 antibodies.
• Summary of emerging clinical trial data.

Main Results:

• ILT4 is expressed in tumor cells and immune cells within the TME, promoting tumor progression.
• Therapeutic antibodies targeting ILT4 are under development.
• Early clinical data suggest ILT4 blockade can improve immunotherapy response.

Conclusions:

• ILT4 represents a novel immunotherapeutic target for overcoming resistance to current cancer treatments.
• ILT4 blockade holds potential for combination therapies to enhance anti-tumor immunity.
• Further clinical investigation of ILT4-targeting agents is warranted.