Mechanistic advancement in chemotherapeutic agents modulated antitumor immune response / 药学学报

ABSTRACT

Chemotherapeutic agents, also known as cytotoxic anticancer agents, inhibit the cancer cell proliferation via interrupting DNA replication, transcription and microtubule stability etc. Chemotherapeutic agents have been used in clinical cancer treatment for decades. Recently, with the tremendous advancement in immuno-oncology, chemotherapeutic agents have aroused renewed interest for their great potential to sensitize tumor cells to immunotherapy. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on the immune system involve multiple aspects with complex mechanisms. Currently, there still lacks guidance for the combined use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and the clinical benefits remain obscure, impelling a better understanding of the impact of chemotherapeutic agents on the antitumor immunity. This article reviews the mechanistic insights into chemotherapy-modulated antitumor immune responses, with major focus on the direct effect on immune cells and the immunogenic remodeling of tumor cells. The review is particularly interested in the chemotherapy-trigged signaling that contributes to the immunogenic cell death. This review may provide useful insights into the immunomodulatory effects of chemotherapeutic agents and the implications in exploring therapeutic opportunities of chemotherapy in cancer immunotherapy.