Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review
It is well-established that tumor antigens and molecules expressed and secreted by cancer cells trigger innate and adaptive immune responses. These two types of anti-tumor immunity lead to the infiltration of the tumor’s microenvironment by immune cells with either regulatory or cytotoxic properties...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/5/285 |
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| author | Ioannis M. Koukourakis Kalliopi Platoni Dina Tiniakos Vassilis Kouloulias Anna Zygogianni |
| author_facet | Ioannis M. Koukourakis Kalliopi Platoni Dina Tiniakos Vassilis Kouloulias Anna Zygogianni |
| author_sort | Ioannis M. Koukourakis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is well-established that tumor antigens and molecules expressed and secreted by cancer cells trigger innate and adaptive immune responses. These two types of anti-tumor immunity lead to the infiltration of the tumor’s microenvironment by immune cells with either regulatory or cytotoxic properties. Whether this response is associated with tumor eradication after radiotherapy and chemotherapy or regrowth has been a matter of extensive research through the years, mainly focusing on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and monocytes and their subtypes, and the expression of immune checkpoint and other immune-related molecules by both immune and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. A literature search has been conducted on studies dealing with the immune response in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, assessing its impact on locoregional control and survival and underlying the potential role of immunotherapy in the treatment of this cancer subtype. Here, we provide an overview of the interactions between local/systemic anti-tumor immunity, cancer-related immune checkpoint, and other immunological pathways and radiotherapy, and how these affect the prognosis of rectal cancer patients. Chemoradiotherapy induces critical immunological changes in the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells that can be exploited for therapeutic interventions in rectal cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:50:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8afd12743bf843b2a293c4d8e8dc84bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1467-3037 1467-3045 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:50:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8afd12743bf843b2a293c4d8e8dc84bb2023-11-18T00:57:23ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452023-05-014554495451710.3390/cimb45050285Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A ReviewIoannis M. Koukourakis0Kalliopi Platoni1Dina Tiniakos2Vassilis Kouloulias3Anna Zygogianni4Radiation Oncology Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUOA), 11528 Athens, GreeceMedical Physics Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Pathology, School of Medicine, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, GreeceRadiotherapy Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, GreeceRadiation Oncology Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUOA), 11528 Athens, GreeceIt is well-established that tumor antigens and molecules expressed and secreted by cancer cells trigger innate and adaptive immune responses. These two types of anti-tumor immunity lead to the infiltration of the tumor’s microenvironment by immune cells with either regulatory or cytotoxic properties. Whether this response is associated with tumor eradication after radiotherapy and chemotherapy or regrowth has been a matter of extensive research through the years, mainly focusing on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and monocytes and their subtypes, and the expression of immune checkpoint and other immune-related molecules by both immune and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. A literature search has been conducted on studies dealing with the immune response in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, assessing its impact on locoregional control and survival and underlying the potential role of immunotherapy in the treatment of this cancer subtype. Here, we provide an overview of the interactions between local/systemic anti-tumor immunity, cancer-related immune checkpoint, and other immunological pathways and radiotherapy, and how these affect the prognosis of rectal cancer patients. Chemoradiotherapy induces critical immunological changes in the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells that can be exploited for therapeutic interventions in rectal cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/5/285rectal cancerradiotherapyimmune checkpointHLAaminoacid metabolismprognosis |
| spellingShingle | Ioannis M. Koukourakis Kalliopi Platoni Dina Tiniakos Vassilis Kouloulias Anna Zygogianni Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review Current Issues in Molecular Biology rectal cancer radiotherapy immune checkpoint HLA aminoacid metabolism prognosis |
| title | Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review |
| title_full | Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review |
| title_short | Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review |
| title_sort | immune response and immune checkpoint molecules in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy a review |
| topic | rectal cancer radiotherapy immune checkpoint HLA aminoacid metabolism prognosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/5/285 |
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