Title:Synergies of Targeting Angiogenesis and Immune Checkpoints in Cancer: From Mechanism to Clinical Applications
Volume: 20
Issue: 7
Author(s): Shi Zhou and Haijun Zhang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Oncology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu,China
Keywords:
Antiangiogenic, immunotherapy, combination therapy, cancer, PD-1, CTLA-4.
Abstract:
Background: Angiogenesis marks key progress in the growth, recurrence, and metastasis of various
cancers. Antiangiogenic drugs can improve the blood supply and oxygen content of tumors and enhance the
effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by normalizing tumor blood vessels and microenvironment. The further
recent developments of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) provide significant progress in cancer immunotherapy.
The study focused on programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen
4 (CTLA-4) blockade, reflecting on the evidence of durable responses among various tumor types. The aim of
this review was to sum up present evidence and clarify the rationale behind supporting the benefits of combining
antiangiogenic drugs with immunotherapy for cancer treatment as well as list the ongoing clinical trials that are
being conducted.
Methods: Using PubMed and Web of Science, published articles have been searched and comprehensively
reviewed.
Results: Antiangiogenic agents can trigger antitumor and immunity, and they can also be induced by the immune
system. Combining antiangiogenic drugs with immunotherapy may be effective for the treatment of human cancers.
Conclusion: It is evidenced that combining angiogenesis inhibitors with immunotherapy has a synergistic effect
thus improving the curative effect of both agents.