Cited by 468Cancer Immunotherapy and BiomarkersImmunotherapy and Immune ResponsesT-cell and B-cell Immunology

Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-PD Cancer Immunotherapy

Vesely, Matthew D., Zhang, Tianxiang, Chen, Lieping·2022·Annual Review of Immunology

Abstract

The transformative success of antibodies targeting the PD-1 (programmed death 1)/B7-H1 (B7 homolog 1) pathway (anti-PD therapy) has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, only a fraction of patients with solid tumors and some hematopoietic malignancies respond to anti-PD therapy, and the reason for failure in other patients is less known. By dissecting the mechanisms underlying this resistance, current studies reveal that the tumor microenvironment is a major location for resistance to occur. Furthermore, the resistance mechanisms appear to be highly heterogeneous. Here, we discuss recent human cancer data identifying mechanisms of resistance to anti-PD therapy. We review evidence for immune-based resistance mechanisms such as loss of neoantigens, defects in antigen presentation and interferon signaling, immune inhibitory molecules, and exclusion of T cells. We also review the clinical evidence for emerging mechanisms of resistance to anti-PD therapy, such as alterations in metabolism, microbiota, and epigenetics. Finally, we discuss strategies to overcome anti-PD therapy resistance and emphasize the need to develop additional immunotherapies based on the concept of normalization cancer immunotherapy.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-immunol-070621-030155

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64 of 64 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Vesely, M. D., Zhang, T., & Chen, L.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Venue
Annual Review of Immunology
Published
2022-04-26
Volume
40
Issue
1
Pages
45-74
ISSN
  • 0732-0582 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-3278
OpenAlex
W4224982677
Cited by
468
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 96 · 2025: 130 · 2024: 144 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 17
FWCI
11.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annual Review of Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (KL2TR001862)
  • National Cancer Institute (P50CA196530)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Keywords
anti-PD-1 resistance, PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, cancer immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment, interferon signaling, T-cell exclusion, cancer metabolism, gut microbiota, epigenetics, combination immunotherapy
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Immunotherapy, Neoplasms, T-Lymphocytes, Tumor Microenvironment, B7-H1 Antigen, Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor

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