Radiotherapy and cGAS/STING signaling: Impact on MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment

Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a highly heterogeneous population of immature immune cells with immunosuppressive functions that are recruited to the tumor microenvironment (TME). MDSCs promote tumor growth and progression by inhibiting immune effector cell proliferation and function. MDSCs are affected by both novel anti-cancer therapies targeting the immune system to promote anti-tumor immunity, as well as by conventional treatments such as radiotherapy. Following radiotherapy, cytoplasmic double stranded DNA stimulates the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, resulting in type I interferon production. Effectiveness of radiotherapy and cGAS/STING signaling are closely intertwined: activation of cGAS and STING is key to generate systemic anti-tumor immunity after irradiation. This review focuses on how radiotherapy and cGAS/STING signaling in MDSCs and/or tumor cells impact MDSC recruitment, expansion and function. The influence of conventional and ablative radiotherapy treatment schedules, inflam-matory response following radiotherapy, and hypoxia are discussed as MDSC modulators.

Automated summary

MDSCs are a heterogeneous population of immature immune cells that have suppressive functions in the tumor microenvironment. They play a role in promoting tumor growth by inhibiting the proliferation and function of immune effector cells. The effects of radiotherapy and cGAS/STING signaling on MDSC recruitment, expansion and function are explored in this review, highlighting the key role of cGAS and STING activation in generating systemic anti-tumor immunity after irradiation.