Checkpoint molecules on infiltrating immune cells in colorectal tumor microenvironment

Iman M Talaat; Noha M Elemam; Shroque Zaher; Maha Saber-Ayad

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.955599

Checkpoint molecules on infiltrating immune cells in colorectal tumor microenvironment

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Aug 22:9:955599. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.955599. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Iman M Talaat^{1

2

3}, Noha M Elemam^{1

2}, Shroque Zaher⁴, Maha Saber-Ayad^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
² Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
³ Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
⁴ College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancer types worldwide, with a high mortality rate due to metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains multiple interactions between the tumor and the host, thus determining CRC initiation and progression. Various immune cells exist within the TME, such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs). The immunotherapy approach provides novel opportunities to treat solid tumors, especially toward immune checkpoints. Despite the advances in the immunotherapy of CRC, there are still obstacles to successful treatment. In this review, we highlighted the role of these immune cells in CRC, with a particular emphasis on immune checkpoint molecules involved in CRC pathogenesis.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; immune checkpoint; lymphocytes; macrophages; neutrophils; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review