Targeting immunogenic cell death in cancer

Ahmed, A. and Tait, S. W.G. (2020) Targeting immunogenic cell death in cancer. Molecular Oncology, 14(12), pp. 2994-3006. (doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.12851) (PMID:33179413) (PMCID:PMC7718954)

Abstract

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is an emerging type of cancer cell death triggered by certain chemotherapeutic drugs, oncolytic viruses, physicochemical therapies, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy. It involves the activation of the immune system against cancer in immunocompetent hosts. ICD comprises the release of damage‐associated molecular patters (DAMPs) from dying tumor cells that result in the activation of tumor‐specific immune responses. Thus, eliciting long‐term efficacy of anticancer drugs by combining direct cancer cell killing and antitumor immunity. Remarkably, subcutaneous injection of dying tumor cells undergoing ICD has been shown to provoke anticancer vaccine effect in vivo. DAMPs include the cell surface exposure of calreticulin (CRT) and heat‐shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90), extracellular release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), high‐mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1), and type Ⅰ IFNs and members of the IL‐1 cytokine family. In this review, we discuss the cell death modalities connected to ICD, the DAMPs exposed during ICD and the mechanism by which they activate the immune system. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential and challenges of harnessing ICD in cancer immunotherapy.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tait, Professor Stephen and Ahmed Hassan Elshiekh, Dr Asma
• Authors: Ahmed, A., and Tait, S. W.G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Molecular Oncology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1574-7891
• ISSN (Online): 1878-0261
• Published Online: 11 November 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Molecular Oncology 14(12): 2994-3006
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
301861		Targeting immunogenic cell death to treat prostate cancer	Stephen Tait	Prostate Cancer UK (PROSCANU)	RIA17-ST2-002	CS - Beatson Institute for Cancer Research