Breast cancer immunotherapy: Current and novel approaches

Int Immunopharmacol. 2021 Sep:98:107886. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107886. Epub 2021 Jun 19.

Abstract

The crucial role of the immune system in the progression/regression of breast cancer (BC) should always be taken into account. Various immunotherapy approaches have been investigated for BC, including tumor-targeting antibodies (bispecific antibodies), adoptive T cell therapy, vaccines, and immune checkpoint blockade such as anti-PD-1. In addition, a combination of conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy approaches contributes to improving patients' overall survival rates. Although encouraging outcomes have been reported in most clinical trials of immunotherapy, some obstacles should still be resolved in this regard. Recently, personalized immunotherapy has been proposed as a potential complementary medicine with immunotherapy and chemotherapy for overcoming BC. Accordingly, this review discusses the brief association of these methods and future directions in BC immunotherapy.

Keywords: Adoptive T cell therapy; Breast cancer; Cancer vaccine; Immune checkpoint blocker; Personalized immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Breast / immunology
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Immunotherapy / trends
  • Mastectomy*
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy / methods*
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy / trends
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines