Potential alteration of tumor microenvironments by β-mercaptoethanol.

Abstract

The therapeutic effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitorsin cancer patientsis quite profound. However, it is generally accepted that further progress is curtailed by accompanying adverse events and by low cure rates linked to the tumor microenvironment. The multitudes of immune processes altered by low-molecular-weight thiols published over the past decades suggest they have potential to alter tumor microenvironment processes which could result in an increase in immune checkpoint inhibitorsurvival rates. Based on one of the most studied and most potent low-molecular-weight thiols, β-mercaptoethanol (BME), it is proposed that clinical assessment be undertaken to identify any BME benefits with relevance forproliferation/differentiation of immune cells, lymphocyte exhaustion, immunogenicity of tumor antigensandinactivation of suppressor cells/factors. TheBME alterations projected to be most effective are: maintenance/replacement of glutathione in lymphocytes via facilitation of cysteine uptake, inhibition of suppressor cells/soluble factors and inactivation of free-radical, reactive oxygen species.