Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine · Vol. 2, No. 1 · 2015 · pp. 66–68 · e-ISSN 2377-1518

Immuno-oncology: Is it a New Hope for Cancer Patients

Anoop Kumar

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17140/csmmoj-2-108 · Published 2015-07-10 · Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 · © 2015 The Author(s)

Also available as PDF (figures and tables appear in the PDF).

Abstract

Cancer is the one of the leading causes of death, whose incidences is increasing day by day due to lack of understanding about its complete mechanism. Therefore, to understand complete mechanism of cancer, researchers started to move their focus from the cancer cell to the host and the environment in which the cancer grows, a very important component of which is the immune system.1,2 The immune system comprises of innate and adaptive system which provides protection to the body against pathogens. The immune cell receptors recognize the foreign and activate the complex immune response signaling pathways which results in the elimination of pathogens.3,4 The first problem with cancer cells is that they arise from our own cells, so some times unable to recognize as non self. Further, if they recognized, alters the immune response signaling pathways at various steps which results in failure of immune response. The cancer cells can avoid recognition and elimination by altering the immune response signaling pathways at various steps such as disrupting antigen recognition and presentation mechanisms, down regulates the MHC class I molecules or inhibiting the antigen processing mechanisms. Additionally, cancer cells may disrupt the pathways which are involved in controlling T-cell inhibition and activation, or by recruiting regulatory T cells (Treg) and Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) which are immunosuppressive. Further, cancer cells may release of some of immunosuppressive immune factors such as adenosine and prostaglandin E2, and the enzyme Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) which leads to progression of cancer.

Acknowledgment

Author gratefully acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, India for providing financial assistance in the form of a DST-INSPIRE fellowship (IF 120789).

References

  1. FinnOJ. Immuno-oncology: understanding the function and dysfunction of the immune system in cancer. Annals of oncol. 2012; 23: 86-89. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mds25610.1093/annonc/mds256 https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mds256
  2. ChenDSMellmanI. Oncology meets immunology: the cancerimmunity cycle. Immunity. 2013; 39: 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j. immuni.2013.07.01210.1016/j.immuni.2013.07.012 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2013.07.012
  3. KumarASharmaNSinghSSasmalDDevA. Oral vaccine antigen induced immune response signalling pathways: current and future perspectives. J. vaccine and vaccination. 2014; 5: 2-6. doi: 10.4172/2157-7560.100022510.4172/2157-7560.1000225 https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7560.1000225
  4. KumarASasmalDSharmaN. Understanding of complex 20,21 signaling pathways of immune system: a review. World journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sci. 2014; 3: 241-255
  5. HoughtonAN. Cancer antigens: immune recognition of self and altered self. J Exp Med. 1994; 180: 1-4
  6. JanewayCATraversPWalportM. Immunobiology: the immune system in health and disease. New York, NY: Current Biology Publications; 1999
  7. De VisserKEEichtenACoussensLM. Paradoxical roles of the immune system during cancer development. Nature reviews cancer. 2006; 6: 24-37
  8. ParishCR. Cancer immunotherapy: the past, the present and the future. Immunol Cell Biol. 2003; 81: 106-113. doi: 10.1046/j.0818-9641.2003.01151.x10.1046/j.0818-9641.2003.01151.x https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0818-9641.2003.01151.x
  9. MaparaMYSykesM. Tolerance and cancer: mechanisms of tumor evasion and strategies for breaking tolerance. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2004; 22: 1136-1151. doi: 10.1200/ JCO.2004.10.041
  10. LuH. TLR agonists for cancer immunotherapy: tipping the balance between the immune stimulatory and inhibitory effects. Frontiers in immunol. 2014: 5. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.0008310.3389/fimmu.2014.00083 https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2014.00083
  11. VacchelliEGalluzziLEggermontA. Trial watch: FDA-approved Toll-like receptor agonists for cancer therapy. Oncoimmunol. 2012; 1: 894-907. doi: 10.4161/onci.2093110.4161/onci.20931 https://doi.org/10.4161/onci.20931
  12. KriegAM. Tolllike receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists in the treatment of cancer. Oncogene. 2008; 27: 161-167. doi: 10.1038/ sj.onc.1210911
  13. GubinMMZhangXSchusterH. Checkpoint blockade cancer immunotherapy targets tumour-specific mutant antigens. Nature. 2014; 515: 577-581. doi: 10.1038/nature1398810.1038/nature13988 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13988
  14. PowlesTEderJPFineGD. MPDL3280A (anti-PDL1) treatment leads to clinical activity in metastatic bladder cancer. Nature. 2014; 515: 558-562. doi: 10.1038/nature1390410.1038/nature13904 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13904
  15. TumehPCHarviewCLYearleyJH. PD-1 blockade induces responses by inhibiting adaptive immune resistance. Nature. 2014; 515: 568-571. doi: 10.1038/nature1395410.1038/nature13954 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13954
  16. SkakKKraghMHausmanDSmythMJSivakumarPV. Interleukin 21: combination strategies for cancer therapy. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2008; 7: 231-240. doi: 10.1038/ nrd2482
  17. RosenbergSAYangJCRestifoNP. Cancer immunotherapy: moving beyond current vaccines. Nature medicine. 2004; 10: 909-915. doi: 10.1038/nm110010.1038/nm1100 https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1100
  18. MarkleyJCSadelainM. IL-7 and IL-21 are superior to IL-2 and IL-15 in promoting human T cellmediated rejection of systemic lymphoma in immunodeficient mice. Blood. 2010; 115: 3508-3519. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-09-24139810.1182/blood-2009-09-241398 https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2009-09-241398
  19. LiuSLizéeGLouY. IL-21 synergizes with IL-7 to augment expansion and anti-tumor function of cytotoxic T cells. International immunol. 2007; 19: 1213-1221. doi: 10.1093/ intimm/dxm093
  20. KalosMJuneCH. Adoptive T cell transfer for cancer immunotherapy in the era of synthetic biology. Immunity. 2013; 39: 49-60. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2013.07.00210.1016/j.immuni.2013.07.002 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2013.07.002
  21. RestifoNPDudleyMERosenbergSA. Adoptive immunotherapy for cancer: harnessing the T cell response. Nature Reviews Immunol. 2012; 12: 269-281. doi: 10.1038/nri319110.1038/nri3191 https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3191