title: CD73-adenosine: a next-generation target in immuno-oncology.
abstract: Cancer immunotherapy has entered in a new era with the development of first-generation immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 pathways. In this context, considerable research effort is being deployed to find the next generation of cancer immunotherapeutics. The CD73-adenosine axis constitutes one of the most promising pathways in immuno-oncology. We and others have demonstrated the immunosuppressive role of CD73-adenosine in cancer and established proof-of-concept that the targeted blockade of CD73 or adenosine receptors could effectively promote anti-tumor immunity and enhance the activity of first-generation immune checkpoint blockers. With Phase I clinical trials now underway evaluating anti-CD73 or anti-A2A therapies in cancer patients, we here discuss the fundamental, preclinical and clinical findings related to the role of the CD73-adenosinergic pathway in tumor immunity.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Québec, Canada.|Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Québec, Canada.|Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Québec, Canada.|Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre-Olivier
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Gaudreau
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Québec, Canada.|Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chrobak
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal et Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Québec, Canada.|Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stagg
mesh_terms: D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D000241:Adenosine / Q000276:immunology*; D058917:Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D058917:Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase; C548241:NT5E protein, human; D000241:Adenosine
keywords: CD73; adenosine; adenosine receptors; anti-tumor immunity; immune checkpoint