A summary of the characteristics and preclinical/clinical progress of emerging immunotherapy targets in gynecological cancer is presented in a recent publication in OncoTargets and Therapy (2020;13:11869-11882. doi:10.2147/OTT.S282530).
Immunotherapy is gaining in popularity for first-line cancer treatments. Because of the constant evolution and interaction of the immune signaling pathways and immune environment, it is important to seek new immune targets for gynecological cancer.
“In this review, we describe the following emerging targets of immunotherapy in gynecologic cancer on the basis of development in preclinical/clinical studies and a limited number of review articles available,” wrote the study authors.
Examples of the emerging targets identified by the study authors include coinhibitory molecules, such as T cell immunoglobulin-3 (TIM-3), T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), V-type immunoglobulin domain-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), and B7-H3 and B7-H4, and co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD27, OX40, 4–1BB, CD40, glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) and inducible co-stimulator (ICOS).
“The expression patterns of these emerging immune targets are closely associated with the treatment responses, and the relevant research is mostly in the early experimental stages,” concluded the study authors. “However, the potential mechanisms and interactions of immune targets need to be elucidated in further studies.”—Lisa Kuhns
