Nakamura and Smyth review the complex relationships and mechanistic pathways linking chronic inflammation in cancer to the maturation, recruitment, and activity of suppressive myeloid cells, particularly MDSCs and TAMs, which act as barriers to effective immunotherapy. Strategies to prevent immunosuppression in the TME include using antiinflammatory agents, targeting myeloid cell survival, and preventing myeloid cell trafficking. Conversely, approaches to exploit the innate immune functions of myeloid cells include reprogramming cells, promoting acute inflammation, and targeting immunoregulatory “checkpoint” molecules.
Tumor-promoting inflammation and the avoidance of immune destruction are hallmarks of cancer. While innate immune cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages, are critical mediators for sterile and nonsterile inflammation, persistent inflammation, such as that which occurs in cancer, is known to disturb normal myelopoiesis. This disturbance leads to the generation of immunosuppressive myeloid cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Due to their potent suppressive activities against effector lymphocytes and their abundance in the tumor microenvironment, immunosuppressive myeloid cells act as a major barrier to cancer immunotherapy. Indeed, various therapeutic approaches directed toward immunosuppressive myeloid cells are actively being tested in preclinical and clinical studies. These include anti-inflammatory agents, therapeutic blockade of the mobilization and survival of myeloid cells, and immunostimulatory adjuvants. More recently, immune checkpoint molecules expressed on tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells have emerged as potential therapeutic targets to redirect these cells to eliminate tumor cells. In this review, we discuss the complex crosstalk between cancer-related inflammation and immunosuppressive myeloid cells and possible therapeutic strategies to harness antitumor immune responses.
Author Info: (1) Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, 4006, QLD, Australia. (2) Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR
Author Info: (1) Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, 4006, QLD, Australia. (2) Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, 4006, QLD, Australia. mark.smyth@qimrberghofer.edu.au.
