Fundamental and Essential Knowledge for Pathologists Engaged in the Research and Practice of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Cancer Immunotherapy

Terufumi Kubo; Tomoyo Shinkawa; Yasuhiro Kikuchi; Kenji Murata; Takayuki Kanaseki; Tomohide Tsukahara; Yoshihiko Hirohashi; Toshihiko Torigoe

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.679095

Fundamental and Essential Knowledge for Pathologists Engaged in the Research and Practice of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Cancer Immunotherapy

Front Oncol. 2021 Jul 5:11:679095. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.679095. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Terufumi Kubo¹, Tomoyo Shinkawa¹, Yasuhiro Kikuchi¹, Kenji Murata¹, Takayuki Kanaseki¹, Tomohide Tsukahara¹, Yoshihiko Hirohashi¹, Toshihiko Torigoe¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan.

Abstract

Extensive research over 100 years has demonstrated that tumors can be eliminated by the autologous immune system. Without doubt, immunotherapy is now a standard treatment along with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy; however, the field of cancer immunotherapy is continuing to develop. The current challenges for the use of immunotherapy are to enhance its clinical efficacy, reduce side effects, and develop predictive biomarkers. Given that histopathological analysis provides molecular and morphological information on humans in vivo, its importance will continue to grow. This review article outlines the basic knowledge that is essential for the research and daily practice of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer immunotherapy from the perspective of histopathology.

Keywords: HLA class I; PD-L1; immune checkpoint inhibitors; immunohistochemistry; pathology.

Publication types

Review