Metronomic chemotherapy, dampening of immunosuppressive cells, antigen presenting cell activation, and T cells. A quartet against refractoriness and resistance to checkpoint inhibitors

Abstract

Chemotherapeutic agents have profound effects on cancer, stroma and immune cells that – in most cases – depend upon the dosage and schedule of administration. Preclinical and clinical studies summarized and discussed in the present review have demonstrated that maximum tolerable dosage (MTD) vs low-dosage, continuous (metronomic) administration of most chemotherapeutics have polarized effects on immune cells. In particular, metronomic schedules might be associated – among others effects – with activation of antigen presenting cells and generation of new T cell clones to enhance the activity of several types of immunotherapies. Ongoing and planned clinical trials in different types of cancer will confirm or dismiss this hypothesis and provide candidate biomarker data for the selection of patients who are likely to benefit from these combinatorial strategies.