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Review
. 2021 Sep 8;20(1):116.
doi: 10.1186/s12943-021-01406-7.

The role of lncRNAs and circRNAs in the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in cancer immunotherapy

Wenxiao Jiang  1 , Shuya Pan  1 , Xin Chen  1 , Zhi-Wei Wang  2 , Xueqiong Zhu  3
Affiliations
Review

The role of lncRNAs and circRNAs in the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in cancer immunotherapy

Wenxiao Jiang et al. Mol Cancer. .

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has recently shown promising antitumor effects in various types of tumors. Among all immune checkpoints, the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays an important role in the immune evasion of tumor cells, making it a potent target in antitumor immunity. Accordingly, antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway have been developed to attack tumor cells; however, resistance to immune therapy remains to be solved. Hence, identification of the underlying modulators of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is of significant importance to understand the mechanisms of antitumor immunotherapy. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified to regulate the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, leading to participation in the immune response and immunotherapy. Therefore, this review focuses on the functions of lncRNAs and circRNAs in regulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. We hope this review will stimulate research to supply more precise and effective cancer immune checkpoint therapies for a large number of tumors.

Keywords: Cancer; CircRNAs; Immunotherapy; LncRNAs; PD-1; PD-L1.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Several factors regulate the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Multiple lncRNAs regulate the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in cancer
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Several circRNAs regulate the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in cancer
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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