Commentary,  J Clin Exp Oncol Vol: 13 Issue: 5

Advances in Tumor Immunology and Its Clinical Applications

Xieng Lin^*

¹Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Shandong, China

*Corresponding Author: Xieng Lin,
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Shandong, China
E-mail: bruenly_williams@susm.edu

Received date: 23 September, 2024, Manuscript No. JCEOG-24-152421;

Editor assigned date: 25 September, 2024, PreQC No. JCEOG-24-152421 (PQ);

Reviewed date: 09 October, 2024, QC No. JCEOG-24-152421;

Revised date: 16 October, 2024, Manuscript No. JCEOG-24-152421 (R);

Published date: 23 October, 2024, DOI: 10.4172/2324-9110.1000437

Citation: Lin X (2024) Advances in Tumor Immunology and its Clinical Applications. J Clin Exp Oncol 13:5.

Description

Tumor immunology, the study of how the immune system interacts with cancer cells, has emerged as one of the most dynamic and transformative fields in cancer studies. The immune system plays a key role in detecting and eliminating tumor cells through a process called immunosurveillance. However, tumors have evolved complex mechanisms to evade immune detection, leading to the development of cancer. Over recent years, significant advances in understanding tumor immunology have paved the way for innovative therapies aimed at harnessing the immune system to combat cancer. The immune system is designed to detect and destroy abnormal cells, including those that may form tumors. It employs a variety of mechanisms such as cytotoxic T-cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells and macrophages to recognize and eliminate cancerous cells. However, tumors can evade immune detection through several strategies. Tumors often exploit immune checkpoint pathways to avoid immune destruction. These pathways, such as PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 act as "brakes" on immune responses, preventing immune cells from attacking tumor cells. Tumors express checkpoint ligands that bind to immune checkpoint receptors on T-cells, effectively turning off the immune response.

The Tumor Microenvironment (TME) is often characterized by factors that inhibit immune function. Tumors can secrete immunosuppressive cytokines and recruit Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) which reduce the immune response and allow tumor growth. Tumor cells can modify or lose the expression of tumor antigens, making it harder for the immune system to recognize and target them. Despite these difficulties, recent breakthroughs in tumor immunology have identified ways to overcome these barriers, leading to the development of immunotherapy, a treatment modality that aims to stimulate the immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. The last two decades have seen remarkable advances in tumor immunology, particularly in the area of immunotherapy. These advances can be classified into several key areas, immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment by blocking the interactions between immune checkpoint receptors and their ligands. By inhibiting these checkpoints, these therapies effectively release the brakes on the immune system, allowing it to recognize and attack tumor cells. Drugs like pembrolizumab and nivolumab target PD-1, a receptor on T-cells that, when bound to its ligand PD-L1 inhibits immune responses.

These drugs have shown impressive results in cancers such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma.

Ipilimumab (Yervoy) targets CTLA-4, another immune checkpoint receptor that inhibits T-cell activation. It is primarily used in the treatment of melanoma and is often combined with other immunotherapies for enhanced effect. Chimeric Antigen Receptor Tcell (CAR T-cell) therapy involves engineering a patient's own T-cells to express a receptor that recognizes specific tumor antigens. Once reinfused into the patient, these modified T-cells are capable of targeting and killing cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy has been innovative in hematological cancers, particularly in treating leukemia and lymphoma with Food and Drug Administratrion (FDA) approved treatments like Kymriah and Yescarta. Cancer vaccines aim to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack specific cancer antigens. Unlike conventional vaccines that prevent infection, cancer vaccines target tumors. For example, the FDA-approved vaccine cervarix and gardasil protect against Human Papillomavirus (HPV)- related cancers, while Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used to treat bladder cancer.

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made molecules designed to bind to specific tumor antigens marking cancer cells for destruction by the immune system. Trastuzumab (Herceptin), used in HER2-positive breast cancer and rituximab used in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are examples of monoclonal antibodies that have demonstrated clinical success. Experts are increasingly focusing on modifying the tumor microenvironment to make it more conducive to immune activity. For example, therapies that deplete regulatory T-cells (Tregs), which suppress immune responses are being tested to enhance the effectiveness of other immunotherapies. Additionally, targeting immunosuppressive cytokines such as Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-β) and promoting the infiltration of immune cells into tumors are active areas of studies. The clinical applications of tumor immunology have had a diverse impact on cancer treatment, providing patients with new perspective, especially those with cancers that are resistant to standard therapies like chemotherapy and radiation.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) immunotherapy has become a standard treatment option for advanced NSCLC, particularly with drugs targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Pembrolizumab has shown significant efficacy in patients whose tumors express high levels of PD-L1, providing an alternative to chemotherapy. CAR T-cell therapy has changed the treatment of haematological malignancies, including Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and certain types of lymphoma. These therapies have shown impressive results in patients who were refractory to other treatments, leading to long-term remissions. The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors has also improved outcomes for patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Drugs like atezolizumab and nivolumab are now used to treat these cancers, improving survival rates and quality of life.

Conclusion

Advances in tumor immunology have significantly changed the way that cancer is treated, providing new potential for patients with cancers that were once considered untreatable. From immune checkpoint inhibitors to CAR T-cell therapy and cancer vaccines, immunotherapy has led a new phase in cancer treatment. As studies, continue to analyse the complexities of the immune system and its interaction with tumors, the clinical applications of tumor immunology are likely to expand, providing more effective, targeted and specific therapies for cancer patients in the future.