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Dual role of immunomodulation by anticancer chemotherapy

Nature Medicine volume 19, pages 20–22 (2013)Cite this article

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The anticancer efficacy of conventional chemotherapies seems to be due, in part, to augmentation of the host immune reactivity. However, a new study reveals that two common chemotherapeutic agents, gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil, can also activate immune regulatory cells, which stimulates the emergence of protumorigenic cytokines via inflammasome pathways, limiting the antitumor efficacy of the drugs (pages 57–64).

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Figure 1: Molecular and cellular pathways of chemotherapy-induced, immune cell–mediated inhibition of antitumor efficacy.

Marina Corral

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michael R. Shurin is in the Division of Clinical Immunopathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,

    Michael R Shurin

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  1. Michael R Shurin
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Correspondence to Michael R Shurin.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Shurin, M. Dual role of immunomodulation by anticancer chemotherapy. Nat Med 19, 20–22 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3045

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