Targeting the adenosine pathway for cancer immunotherapy

Akil Hammami; David Allard; Bertrand Allard; John Stagg

doi:10.1016/j.smim.2019.101304

Targeting the adenosine pathway for cancer immunotherapy

Semin Immunol. 2019 Apr:42:101304. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101304.

Authors

Akil Hammami¹, David Allard¹, Bertrand Allard¹, John Stagg²

Affiliations

¹ Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, QC, Canada; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada.
² Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, QC, Canada; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: john.stagg@umontreal.ca.

PMID: 31604539
DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101304

Abstract

Suppression of anti-tumor immunity is recognized as a critical step in the development of many types of cancers. Over the past decade, a multitude of immunosuppressive pathways occurring in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been identified. Amongst them, the hydrolysis of extracellular ATP into adenosine by ecto-nucleotidases has been increasingly documented as new immune checkpoint pathway that can significantly impair anti-tumor immunity of multiple types of cancer. In this review, we summarize past and recent research on the ecto-nucleotidases CD39 and CD73, conducted by our group and others, that recently lead to the development and clinical testing of adenosine targeting agents for cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: A2a; Adenosine; Adora2a; CD39; CD73; Immune checkpoint; Immunotherapy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

5'-Nucleotidase / immunology*
Adenosine / immunology*
Animals
Antigens, CD / immunology*
Apyrase / immunology*
Humans
Immunotherapy*
Neoplasms / immunology
Neoplasms / therapy*
Signal Transduction

Substances

Antigens, CD
5'-Nucleotidase
Apyrase
CD39 antigen
Adenosine