Immune surveillance in melanoma: From immune attack to melanoma escape and even counterattack.

Abstract

Pharmacologic inhibition of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and the programmed death receptor-1 (PD1) has resulted in unprecedented durable responses in metastatic melanoma. However, resistance to immunotherapy remains a major challenge. Effective immune surveillance against melanoma requires 4 essential steps: activation of the T lymphocytes, homing of the activated T lymphocytes to the melanoma microenvironment, identification and episode of melanoma cells by activated T lymphocytes, and the sensitivity of melanoma cells to apoptosis. At each of these steps, there are multiple factors that may interfere with the immune surveillance machinery, thus allowing melanoma cells to escape immune attack and develop resistance to immunotherapy. We provide a comprehensive review of the complex immune surveillance mechanisms at play in melanoma, and a detailed discussion of how these mechanisms may allow for the development of intrinsic or acquired resistance to immunotherapeutic modalities, and potential avenues for overcoming this resistance.

• Authors: Fade Mahmoud, Bradley Shields, Issam Makhoul, Nathan Avaritt, Henry K Wong, Laura F Hutchins, Sara Shalin, Alan J Tackett
• Journal: Cancer biology & therapy (Cancer Biol Ther) Vol. 18 Issue 7 Pg. 451-469 (Jul 03 2017) ISSN: 1555-8576 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28513269 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (genetics, immunology)
• Cell Movement
• Humans
• Immunologic Surveillance
• Immunomodulation
• Immunotherapy
• Lymphocyte Activation (genetics, immunology)
• Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating (drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
• Melanoma (immunology, metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• T-Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
• Tumor Escape (immunology)