| Popis: |
Cancer immune evasion encompasses a variety of complex mechanisms through which cancers evade host anti-tumor immunity, escape recognition or disable destructive immunity. There are numerous factors and conditions that contribute to tumor persistence despite having a functional host immune system. Immune editing is one of the mechanisms used by tumors to evade surveillance causing tumor “dormancy” before re-emerging. In addition, tumors misuse several processes implicated in the proper regulation of the immune system such as targeting the regulatory T cell (Treg) function, affecting antigen presentation, modifying the production of immune suppressive mediators, and inducing immune tolerance. Intra-tumoral heterogeneity and the presence of cancer stem cells also play an important role in tumor progression. Counteracting tumor escape from the immune system is a main rationale in designing effective anticancer therapeutic strategies. Clinical successes of immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies represent a turning point in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we discuss the advances made toward understanding the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion in gliomas, counteracting those events with immunotherapy and a specific, double-faced role of autophagy in those processes. Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process in which cellular material is delivered to lysosomes for degradation, leading to the basal turnover of cell components and providing energy and macromolecular precursors. It maintains cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling organelles and proteins. In cancer, autophagy has shown to perform a puzzling role as it may serve as a tumor suppressive process during initial stages, but later protects the tumor cells from anti-tumor activities of the immune system. We briefly assess the efficacy of various therapeutic approaches that have been developed to enhance tumor eradication, with focus on those targeting autophagy process. |
