In situ antitumor vaccination: Targeting the tumor microenvironment

J Cell Physiol. 2020 Jul;235(7-8):5490-5500. doi: 10.1002/jcp.29551. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

Abstract

Tumor microenvironment is known to play important roles in tumor progression. Many therapies, targeting the tumor microenvironment, are designed and applied in the clinic. One of these approaches is in situ antitumor therapy. This way, bacteria, antibodies, plasmid DNA, viruses, and cells are intratumorally delivered into the tumor site as "in-situ antitumor vaccine," which seeks to enhance immunogenicity and generate systemic T cell responses. In addition, this intratumoral therapy can alter the tumor microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory while limiting the risk of systemic exposure and associated toxicity. Contemporarily, promising preclinical results and some initial success in clinical trials have been obtained after intratumoral therapy.

Keywords: immunotherapy; intratumoral injection; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines