Microbiota and Extracellular Vesicles in Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Therapy

Cancers (Basel). 2022 Oct 19;14(20):5121. doi: 10.3390/cancers14205121.

Abstract

Cancer is a deadly disease worldwide. In light of the requisite of convincing therapeutic methods for cancer, immune checkpoint inhibition methods such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy appear promising. Human microbiota have been exhibited to regulate susceptibility to cancer as well as the response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. However, the probable contribution of bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) in cancer pathophysiology and treatment has not been investigated much. bEVs illustrate the ability to cross physiological barriers, assemble around the tumor cells, and likely modify the tumor microenvironment (EVs). This systematic review emphasizes the correlation between cancer-associated extracellular vesicles, particularly bEVs and the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. The clinical and pharmacological prospective of bEVs in revamping the contemporary treatments for cancer has been further discussed.

Keywords: anti-PD therapy; cancer; extracellular vesicles; microbiota.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.