Cancer Cell Lysis via Immunologic Cytotoxicity (null)

Molecular Classification

Functional Process, Immune Response, Cell Death

Other Names

Tumor cell killing by immune system, Immunogenic cell death (ICD)-mediated tumor lysis, Cancer cell destruction by CTLs and NK cells

Disease Roles

CancerImmune evasionTumor microenvironment

Cancer Cell Lysis via Immunologic Cytotoxicity Overview

Cancer cell lysis via immunologic cytotoxicity refers to the destruction of cancer cells by components of the immune system, primarily through mechanisms that involve direct recognition and killing of tumor cells. This process is central to many forms of cancer immunotherapy, which aim to harness or enhance the body's natural immune responses to eliminate malignant cells. Key mechanisms include cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), natural killer (NK) cells, and immunogenic cell death (ICD).

Mechanism of Action

Induction of cancer cell death through activation of immune effector cells (CTLs, NK cells, DNTs) and/or stimulation of immunogenic cell death (ICD)

Biological Functions

Tumor cell lysis

Immune cell activation

Adaptive immune response

Innate immune response

Disease Associations

Cancer

Immune evasion

Tumor microenvironment

Safety Considerations

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS)
Immune-related adverse events (irAEs)
On-target/off-tumor toxicity
Tumor lysis syndrome

Interacting Drugs

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-CTLA-4)

Monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Rituximab)

Adoptive cell transfer therapies (e.g., CAR-T therapy)

Oncolytic viruses (e.g., Talimogene laherparepvec)

Chemotherapeutic agents (ICD inducers)

Radiotherapy (ICD inducer)

Targeted therapies (ICD inducers)

Immunomodulatory agents (ICD inducers)

Associated Biomarkers

Biomarker
Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)
PD-L1 expression
Microsatellite instability (MSI)
Tumor mutational burden (TMB)
DAMPs (e.g., calreticulin, HMGB1, ATP)
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) signature