Immunogenic cell death in cancer: concept and therapeutic implications

Mammalian cells responding to specific perturbations of homeostasis can undergo a regulated variant of cell death that elicits adaptive immune responses. As immunogenic cell death (ICD) can only occur in a precise cellular and organismal context, it should be conceptually differentiated from instances of immunostimulation or inflammatory responses that do not mechanistically depend on cellular demise. Here, we critically discuss key conceptual and mechanistic aspects of ICD and its implications for cancer (immuno)therapy.

Automated summary

Mammalian cells can undergo regulated cell death in response to specific disruptions of homeostasis, leading to adaptive immune responses. This immunogenic cell death (ICD) is distinct from immunostimulation or inflammatory responses that do not depend on cellular demise. In this article, we critically discuss the key concepts and mechanisms of ICD and its implications for cancer immunotherapy.