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Review
. 2020 Sep 16;12(9):2637.
doi: 10.3390/cancers12092637.

Immunogenic Cell Death and Elimination of Immunosuppressive Cells: A Double-Edged Sword of Chemotherapy

Jean-David Fumet  1   2   3   4 , Emeric Limagne  2   3   4 , Marion Thibaudin  2   3   4 , Francois Ghiringhelli  1   2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Immunogenic Cell Death and Elimination of Immunosuppressive Cells: A Double-Edged Sword of Chemotherapy

Jean-David Fumet et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Chemotherapy is initially used to kill proliferative cells. In the current area of emerging immunotherapy, chemotherapies have shown their ability to modulate the tumor micro environment and immune response. We focus here on two main effects: first, immunogenic cell death, defined as a form of regulated cell death (RCD) that is sufficient to activate an adaptive immune response in immunocompetent hosts; and second, the depletion of suppressive cells, known to play a major role in immune escape and resistance to immunotherapy. In this review, we present a review of different classically used chemotherapies focusing on this double effect on immunity. These immunological effects of chemotherapy could be exploited to promote efficacy of immunotherapy. Broadening our understanding will make it possible to provide rationales for the combination of chemoimmunotherapy in early clinical trials.

Keywords: cancer; chemotherapy; immunogenic cell death; immunosuppression; immunotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mechanisms of chemotherapy-driven “immunogenic” cancer cell death (ICD).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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