Tumor-draining lymph nodes - friend or foe during immune checkpoint therapy?
Journal
Trends in cancer
Journal Volume
11
Journal Issue
7
Start Page
676
End Page
690
ISSN
2405-8025
Date Issued
2025-07
Author(s)
Abstract
The pivotal role of tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) in supporting antitumor immunity and serving as sites for cancer metastasis presents a clinical challenge: eliminate tumors while preserving antitumor immune responses. In this article, we explore the initiation of tumor-specific immune responses within lymph nodes (LNs), the immunocompromised microenvironment induced by tumors within LNs, and the crucial involvement of TDLNs in immunotherapy. Additionally, we examine the clinical prospects of modifying surgical procedures or therapy sequences to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment.
Subjects
immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)
lymph node preservation
neoadjuvant immunotherapy
progenitor-exhausted T (Tpex) cells
tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN)
tumor-specific memory T (Ttsm) cell
SDGs
Type
review article