2. Academic Validation
  3. Targeting Negative and Positive Immune Checkpoints with Monoclonal Antibodies in Therapy of Cancer

Targeting Negative and Positive Immune Checkpoints with Monoclonal Antibodies in Therapy of Cancer

  • Cancers (Basel). 2019 Nov 8;11(11):1756. doi: 10.3390/cancers11111756.
Katsiaryna Marhelava 1 2,  Zofia Pilch 3,  Malgorzata Bajor 1,  Agnieszka Graczyk-Jarzynka 3,  Radoslaw Zagozdzon 1 4 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59 Street, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland.
  • 2 Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Trojdena 2a Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
  • 3 Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Nielubowicza 5 Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
  • 4 Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59 Street, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland.
  • 5 Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
PMID: 31717326 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111756
Abstract

The immune checkpoints are regulatory molecules that maintain immune homeostasis in physiological conditions. By sending T cells a series of co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory signals via receptors, immune checkpoints can both protect healthy tissues from adaptive immune response and activate lymphocytes to remove pathogens effectively. However, due to their mode of action, suppressive immune checkpoints may serve as unwanted protection for Cancer cells. To restore the functioning of the immune system and make the patient's immune cells able to recognize and destroy tumors, monoclonal Antibodies are broadly used in Cancer Immunotherapy to block the suppressive or to stimulate the positive immune checkpoints. In this review, we aim to present the current state of application of monoclonal Antibodies in clinics, used either as single agents or in a combined treatment. We discuss the limitations of these therapies and possible problem-solving with combined treatment approaches involving both non-biological and biological agents. We also highlight the most promising strategies based on the use of monoclonal or bispecific Antibodies targeted on immune checkpoints other than currently implemented in clinics.

Keywords

combination therapy; immune checkpoints; immunotherapy; monoclonal antibodies; tumor immunity.

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