Bridging the divide: unveiling mutual immunological pathways of cancer and pregnancy
- PMID: 38492049
- DOI: 10.1007/s00011-024-01866-9
Bridging the divide: unveiling mutual immunological pathways of cancer and pregnancy
Abstract
The juxtaposition of two seemingly disparate physiological phenomena within the human body-namely, cancer and pregnancy-may offer profound insights into the intricate interplay between malignancies and the immune system. Recent investigations have unveiled striking similarities between the pivotal processes underpinning fetal implantation and successful gestation and those governing tumor initiation and progression. Notably, a confluence of features has emerged, underscoring parallels between the microenvironment of tumors and the maternal-fetal interface. These shared attributes encompass establishing vascular networks, cellular mobilization, recruitment of auxiliary tissue components to facilitate continued growth, and, most significantly, the orchestration of immune-suppressive mechanisms.Our particular focus herein centers on the phenomenon of immune suppression and its protective utility in both of these contexts. In the context of pregnancy, immune suppression assumes a paramount role in shielding the semi-allogeneic fetus from the potentially hostile immune responses of the maternal host. In stark contrast, in the milieu of cancer, this very same immunological suppression fosters the transformation of the tumor microenvironment into a sanctuary personalized for the neoplastic cells.Thus, the striking parallels between the immunosuppressive strategies deployed during pregnancy and those co-opted by malignancies offer a tantalizing reservoir of insights. These insights promise to inform novel avenues in the realm of cancer immunotherapy. By harnessing our understanding of the immunological events that detrimentally impact fetal development, a knowledge grounded in the context of conditions such as preeclampsia or miscarriage, we may uncover innovative immunotherapeutic strategies to combat cancer.
Keywords: Cancer; Immunosuppression; Immunotherapy; Pregnancy.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Similar articles
-
Immune plasticity in pregnancy-associated breast cancer tumorigenesis.Eur J Cancer Prev. 2023 Jul 1;32(4):364-369. doi: 10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000803. Epub 2023 Apr 10. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2023. PMID: 37038998 Review.
-
The Tolerogenic Function of Regulatory T Cells in Pregnancy and Cancer.Front Immunol. 2019 May 8;10:911. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00911. eCollection 2019. Front Immunol. 2019. PMID: 31134056 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Tumors: From Mechanisms to Antigen Specificity and Microenvironmental Regulation.Front Immunol. 2020 Jul 22;11:1371. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01371. eCollection 2020. Front Immunol. 2020. PMID: 32793192 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Understanding Immune Tolerance of Cancer: Re-Purposing Insights from Fetal Allografts and Microbes.Bioessays. 2018 Aug;40(8):e1800050. doi: 10.1002/bies.201800050. Epub 2018 Jun 4. Bioessays. 2018. PMID: 29869436 Review.
-
Exploring the crosstalk between endothelial cells, immune cells, and immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment: new insights and therapeutic implications.Cell Death Dis. 2023 Sep 4;14(9):586. doi: 10.1038/s41419-023-06119-x. Cell Death Dis. 2023. PMID: 37666809 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Impact of Vitamin D deficiency on immunological and metabolic responses in women with recurrent pregnancy loss: focus on VDBP/HLA-G1/CTLA-4/ENTPD1/adenosine-fetal-maternal conflict crosstalk.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Oct 29;24(1):709. doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-06914-0. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024. PMID: 39472874 Free PMC article.
-
Application of Eight Machine Learning Algorithms in the Establishment of Infertility and Pregnancy Diagnostic Models: A Comprehensive Analysis of Amino Acid and Carnitine Metabolism.Metabolites. 2024 Sep 10;14(9):492. doi: 10.3390/metabo14090492. Metabolites. 2024. PMID: 39330499 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Kim NW, Piatyszek MA, Prowse KR, Harley CB, West MD, Ho PLC, Coviello GM, Wright WE, Weinrich SL, Shay JW. Specific association of human telomerase activity with immortal cells and cancer. Science. 1979;1994(266):2011–5. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7605428 . - DOI
-
- Kyo S, Takakura M, Tanaka M, Kanaya T, Sagawa T, Kohama T, Ishikawa H, Nakano T, Shimoya K, Inoue M. Expression of telomerase activity in human chorion. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997;241:498–503. https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.1997.7767 . - DOI - PubMed
-
- Holtan SG, Creedon DJ, Haluska P, Markovic SN. Cancer and pregnancy: parallels in growth, invasion, and immune modulation and implications for cancer therapeutic agents. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84:985–1000. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60669-1 . - DOI - PubMed - PMC
-
- Tao Y, Pinzi V, Bourhis J, Deutsch E. Mechanisms of disease: signaling of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor pathway-therapeutic perspectives in cancer. Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2007;4:591–602. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncponc0934 . - DOI - PubMed
-
- Zhou Y, Fisher SJ, Janatpour M, Genbacev O, Dejana E, Wheelock M, Damsky CH. Human cytotrophoblasts adopt a vascular phenotype as they differentiate. a strategy for successful endovascular invasion? J Clin Invest. 1997;99:2139–51. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI119387 . - DOI - PubMed - PMC
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical