Introduction: Immunogenic cell death markers are released from apoptotic and necrotic cells upon pathologic or therapeutic causes and stimulate the innate and adaptive immune system. Cell death products such as nucleosomes, damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules such as the high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and its receptor of advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) are supposed to play an essential role in driving this process. However, this immunogenic activation may have dual effects, either by sensitizing the immune system for more efficient tumor cell removal or by creating a favorable tumor microenvironment that facilitates tumor growth, proliferation and invasiveness.
Areas covered: Here, we review recent findings on the relevance of serum nucleosomes, DNAse activity, HMGB1 and sRAGE as biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy prediction in cancer disease.
Expert opinion: In comparison with healthy controls, cancer patients demonstrated elevated serum levels of nucleosomes and HMGB1 while sRAGE levels were decreased. During locoregional and systemic cytotoxic therapies, a high release of nucleosomes and HMGB1 as well as low release of sRAGE before and during the initial phase of the treatment was found to be associated with poor response to the therapy and patient survival. Therefore, immunogenic cell death markers are promising tools for the prognosis, therapy prediction and monitoring in cancer patients.