Importance of the interaction between immune cells and tumor vasculature mediated by thalidomide in cancer treatment (Review).
Over the past 60 years, thalidomide has metamorphosized from a drug prescribed to treat morning sickness in pregnant women, which was subsequently found to induce birth defects, into a highly effective therapy for treating leprosy and multiple myeloma. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the anticancer effects of thalidomide, including antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory activities. At present, evidence suggests that thalidomide may induce vessel maturation. Vascular normalization may be an effective strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Numerous studies have shown that the tumor inﬁltrating immune cell subsets are important in regulating the process of tumor angiogenesis. The mechanisms associated with antiangiogenesis and the potent immunomodulatory effects of thalidomide obtained the most support. The studies of the antiangiogenic activity of thalidomide were guided in a novel direction by a hypothesis regarding the vascular normalization of tumors. Hence, thalidomide is effective in cancer treatment due to the interaction between immune cells and tumor vasculature. This mechanism provides new avenues to explore for the treatment of cancer.
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Xin
X
Wang
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Yanwei
Y
Shen
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Shuting
S
Li
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Meng
M
Lv
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Xiaoman
X
Zhang
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Jiao
J
Yang
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Fan
F
Wang
Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Jin
J
Yang
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013792:Thalidomide