Immunotherapy of gastric cancer: Past, future perspective and challenges

Pathol Res Pract. 2021 Feb:218:153322. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2020.153322. Epub 2020 Dec 24.

Abstract

Gastric cancer is considered as the third leading cause of deaths and the fifth most common cancers worldwide. Common treatment approaches include chemotherapy, radiation, gastric resection and targeted therapies. The emergence of gastric cancer immunotherapy has already shown some promising results and have altered the therapeutic procedures. Now, different combination therapies as well as novel immunotherapies targeting new molecules have been proposed. Despite ongoing investigations on the therapeutic options and significant advancements in this regard, the disease is poorly prognosed. In fact, limited therapeutic options and delayed diagnosis lead to the progression, dissemination and metastasis of the disease. Current immunotherapies are mostly based on cytotoxic immunocytes, monoclonal antibodies and gene transferred vaccines. The use of Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have grown rapidly. In this review, we aimed to explore perspective and progression of different approaches of immunotherapy in the treatment of GC and the clinical outcomes reported so far. We also summarized the tumor immunosurveillance and tumor immunoescape.

Keywords: Adoptive cell therapy; Cancer vaccine; Gastric cancer; Immune checkpoint; Immunoescape; Immunosurveillance; Immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Diffusion of Innovation
  • Forecasting
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Immunotherapy* / history
  • Immunotherapy* / trends
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / immunology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism
  • Tumor Escape
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors