Targeting myeloid-derived suppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature suppressive cells partly influencing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. The crosstalk between MDSCs and immune cells mediates a potently immunosuppressive network within the tumor microenvironment to attenuate the anti-tumor response. Targeting MDSCs could be a potential therapeutic approach to overcome the limitation of immunotherapies. In this article, we will review available information on how MDSCs exert their immunosuppressive function and summarize the therapeutic strategies targeting them to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies.