Search

The article discusses a report within the issue regarding cancer research by Michaud and colleagues who show chemotherapy-induced autophagy causes the release of the co-enzyme adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) from tumor cells, which stimulates anti-tumor immune responses. Michaud's team found that when the expression of the genes that encode essential autophagy proteins, ATG5 and ATG7, was reduced in immunogenic allograft mouse tumors, it blunted the release of ATP by the tumor cells. Also discussed is how tumor cell autophagy limits immune-mediated cytotoxicity and the usefulness of transgenic mouse models, deficient in autophagy, in exploring the impact of the tumor microenvironment and chemotherapy protocols on anti-tumor immune responses.

The article discusses a research examining efficacy of anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in nonresponding cancer patients. It mentions that genetic or pharmacological inhibition of Vps34 kinase activity using SB02024 or SAR405 (Vps34i) decreased the tumor growth and improved mice survival in multiple tumor models. It also mentions that inhibition of Vps34 reprograms cold into hot inflamed tumors and improves anti–PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.