Volume 5, Issue 6 e551
REVIEW
Open Access

New insights into immune cells in cancer immunotherapy: from epigenetic modification, metabolic modulation to cell communication

Sha Qin

Sha Qin

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

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Bin Xie

Bin Xie

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

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Qingyi Wang

Qingyi Wang

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

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Rui Yang

Rui Yang

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

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Jingyue Sun

Jingyue Sun

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

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Chaotao Hu

Chaotao Hu

Regenerative Medicine, Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

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Shuang Liu

Corresponding Author

Shuang Liu

Department of Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Correspondence

Desheng Xiao and Yongguang Tao, Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Shuang Liu, Department of Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Email: [email protected]

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Yongguang Tao

Corresponding Author

Yongguang Tao

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South university, Changsha, Hunan, China

Correspondence

Desheng Xiao and Yongguang Tao, Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Shuang Liu, Department of Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Email: [email protected]

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Desheng Xiao

Corresponding Author

Desheng Xiao

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Correspondence

Desheng Xiao and Yongguang Tao, Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Shuang Liu, Department of Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 23 May 2024
Citations: 14

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and more effective ways of attacking cancer are being sought. Cancer immunotherapy is a new and effective therapeutic method after surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Cancer immunotherapy aims to kill tumor cells by stimulating or rebuilding the body's immune system, with specific efficiency and high safety. However, only few tumor patients respond to immunotherapy and due to the complex and variable characters of cancer immune escape, the behavior and regulatory mechanisms of immune cells need to be deeply explored from more dimensions. Epigenetic modifications, metabolic modulation, and cell-to-cell communication are key factors in immune cell adaptation and response to the complex tumor microenvironment. They collectively determine the state and function of immune cells through modulating gene expression, changing in energy and nutrient demands. In addition, immune cells engage in complex communication networks with other immune components, which are mediated by exosomes, cytokines, and chemokines, and are pivotal in shaping the tumor progression and therapeutic response. Understanding the interactions and combined effects of such multidimensions mechanisms in immune cell modulation is important for revealing the mechanisms of immunotherapy failure and developing new therapeutic targets and strategies.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.