Trial watch: Immunogenic cell death induction by anticancer chemotherapeutics

ABSTRACTThe expression “ immunogenic cell death” (ICD) refers to a functionally unique form of cell death that facilitates (instead of suppressing) a T cell-dependent immune response specific for dead cell-derived antigens. ICD critically relies on the activation of adaptive responsesin dying cells, culminating with the exposure or secretion of immunostimulatory molecules commonly referred to as “ damage-associated molecular patterns”. Only a few agents can elicit bona fideICD, including some clinically established chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, mitoxantrone, bleomycin, bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and oxaliplatin. In this Trial Watch, we discuss recent progress on the development of ICD-inducing chemotherapeutic regimens, focusing on studies that evaluate clinical efficacy in conjunction with immunological biomarkers.