Dawn era for revisited cancer therapy by innate immune system and immune checkpoint inhibitors

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease 2024-03, Vol.1870 (3), p.167019-167019, Article 167019
• Main Authors: Kim, Hee-Do, Yeh, Chia-Ying, Chang, Yu-Chan, Kim, Cheorl-Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immunotherapy; Innate immune system; Tumor microenvironment
• ISSN: 0925-4439; 1879-260X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167019

Immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer. However, it shows limited efficacy against certain tumor types. The activation of innate immunity can suppress tumors by mitigating inflammatory and malignant behaviors through immune surveillance. The tumor microenvironment, which is composed of immune cells and cancer cells, plays a crucial role in determining the outcomes of immunotherapy. Relying solely on immune checkpoint inhibitors is not an optimal approach. Instead, there is a need to consider the use of a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with other modulators of the innate immune system to improve the tumor microenvironment. This can be achieved through methods such as immune cell antigen presentation and recognition. In this review, we delve into the significance of innate immune cells in tumor regression, as well as the role of the interaction of tumor cells with innate immune cells in evading host immune surveillance. These findings pave the way for the next chapter in the field of immunotherapy. •The role of innate immune cells in tumor regression•Tumor cells interact with innate immune cells to evade host immune surveillance.•Therapeutic activation of TME-related innate immunity to enhance anti-tumor innate immune responses•Combination immunotherapy is also summarized as activated immunotherapy for innate immunity.•Emerging therapeutic strategies to enhance anti-tumor immune responses in “non-antigenic” tumors