Mucosal immunity: mechanism and application in cancer immunotherapy

Recent advances in immunotherapy have significantly revolutionized cancer treatment landscape and prompted extensive research into novel vaccine-based anti-tumor therapy. As the primary defense against external infections, the mucosal immune response plays a pivotal role in maintaining normal physiological functions and preventing pathogen invasion. Mucosal tissues are among the most common sites of tumor initiation, and therefore harnessing mucosal immune to fight against malignant cells represents a feasible option for optimizing and improving current antitumor therapies. Over the past few decades, numerous efforts have been devoted to designing ideal and effective mucosal vaccine. Some clinical trials using mucosal vaccine for cancer therapy have been also launched continually. In this review, we introduce the mechanisms of mucosal immunity, with a focus on the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts. We also summarize recent research and clinical trials on the application of mucosal vaccines in anti-tumor therapy, aiming to provide new perspectives and directions for future studies.