title: MDSCs in cancer: Conceiving new prognostic and therapeutic targets.
abstract: The incomplete clinical efficacy of anti-tumor immunotherapy can depend on the presence of an immunosuppressive environment in the host that supports tumor progression. Tumor-derived cytokines and growth factors induce an altered hematopoiesis that modifies the myeloid cell differentiation process, promoting proliferation and expansion of cells with immunosuppressive skills, namely myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MDSCs promote tumor growth not only by shaping immune responses towards tumor tolerance, but also by supporting several processes necessary for the neoplastic progression such as tumor angiogenesis, cancer stemness, and metastasis dissemination. Thus, MDSC targeting represents a promising tool to eliminate host immune dysfunctions and increase the efficacy of immune-based cancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.affiliation: Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solito
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ugel
authors.affiliation: Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Molon
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy. Electronic address: vincenzo.bronte@univr.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bronte
authors.affiliation: Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marigo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction
keywords: Cancer-microenvironment; MDSC-targeting approach; Myeloid-derived suppressor cells