Crosstalk Between the Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Cells: A Promising Predictive Biomarker for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the landscape of cancer treatment and are emerging as promising curative treatments in different type of cancers. However, only a small proportion of patients have benefited from ICIs and there is an urgent need to find robust biomarkers for individualized immunotherapy and to explore the causes of immunotherapy resistance. In this article, we review the roles of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and discuss the effects of ICIs on these cell populations. We discuss the potential of the functional interaction between the TME and cancer cells as a predictive biomarker for ICIs. Furthermore, we outline the potential personalized strategies to improve the effectiveness of ICIs with precision.