Advances of ultrasound in tumor immunotherapy

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 May 11:134:112233. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112233. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Immunotherapy has become a revolutionary method for treating tumors, offering new hope to cancer patients worldwide. Immunotherapy strategies such as checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and cancer vaccines have shown significant potential in clinical trials. Despite the promising results, there are still limitations that impede the overall effectiveness of immunotherapy; the response to immunotherapy is uneven, the response rate of patients is still low, and systemic immune toxicity accompanied with tumor cell immune evasion is common. Ultrasound technology has evolved rapidly in recent years and has become a significant player in tumor immunotherapy. The introductions of high intensity focused ultrasound and ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles have opened doors for new therapeutic strategies in the fight against tumor. This paper explores the revolutionary advancements of ultrasound combined with immunotherapy in this particular field.

Keywords: Immune evasion; Immunotherapy; Tumor; Ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Review