Advances in cancer immunotherapy: historical perspectives, current developments, and future directions

作者：Mei‐Yin Zhang, Chao-jun Liu, Jing Tu, Min Tang, Milad Ashrafizadeh, Noushin Nabavi, Gautam Sethi, Peiqing Zhao, Shijian Liu · 发表于：Molecular Cancer · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12943-025-02305-x · 被引用次数：235 · 研究领域：Immunotherapy and Immune Responses、Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers、Immune Cell Function and Interaction

Cancer immunotherapy, encompassing both experimental and standard-of-care therapies, has emerged as a promising approach to harnessing the immune system for tumor suppression. Experimental strategies, including novel immunotherapies and preclinical models, are actively being explored, while established treatments, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), are widely implemented in clinical settings. This comprehensive review examines the historical evolution, underlying mechanisms, and diverse strategies of cancer immunotherapy, highlighting both its clinical applications and ongoing preclinical advancements. The review delves into the essential components of anticancer immunity, including dendritic cell activation, T cell priming, and immune surveillance, while addressing the challenges posed by immune evasion mechanisms. Key immunotherapeutic strategies, such as cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, adoptive cell transfer, and ICIs, are discussed in detail. Additionally, the role of nanotechnology, cytokines, chemokines, and adjuvants in enhancing the precision and efficacy of immunotherapies were explored. Combination therapies, particularly those integrating immunotherapy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, exhibit synergistic potential but necessitate careful management to reduce side effects. Emerging factors influencing immunotherapy outcomes, including tumor heterogeneity, gut microbiota composition, and genomic and epigenetic modifications, are also examined. Further...