Immunotherapy resistance of lung cancer

Cancer Drug Resist. 2022 Feb 8;5(1):114-128. doi: 10.20517/cdr.2021.101. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

In recent years, immunotherapy has made remarkable breakthroughs and brought long-term survival benefits to lung cancer patients. However, a high percentage of patients do not respond to immunotherapy or their responses are transient, indicating the existence of immune resistance. Current studies show that the interactions between cancer cells and immune system are continuous and dynamic. A range of cancer cell-autonomous characteristics, tumor microenvironment factors, and host-related influences account for heterogenous responses. Furthermore, with the identification of new targets of immunotherapy and the development of immune-based combinations, we propose the response strategies to overcome resistance.

Keywords: Immunotherapy; resistance mechanisms; response strategies.