title: Rationale for anti-CD137 cancer immunotherapy.
abstract: The consideration of the complex interplay between the tumour microenvironment (TME) and the immune response is the key for designing effective immunotherapies. Therapeutic strategies that harness co-stimulatory receptors have recently gained momentum in the clinic. One such strategy with promising clinical applications is the targeting of CD137, a member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Its expression on both innate and adaptive immune cells, coupled with its unique ability to potentiate antitumour responses through modulating the TME and to ameliorate autoimmune responses, has established it as an appealing target. In this review, we will discuss the various CD137-targeted immunotherapeutics that have reached clinical development, with a focus on recent advances and novel modalities such as CD137 chimeric antigen receptors and CD137 bispecific antibodies. We will also highlight the effect of CD137 targeting on the TME and discuss the importance of probing TME changes for predicting and testing the efficacy of CD137-mediated immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA.
authors.forename: Amani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makkouk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA; Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA.
authors.forename: Cariad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chester
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA. Electronic address: kohrt@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Holbrook E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kohrt
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018033:Antibodies, Bispecific; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
keywords: Bispecific antibodies; CAR; CD137; Cancer immunotherapy; Cytotoxic T cells; Monoclonal antibodies; Natural killer cells; Tumour microenvironment