The unfolding story of dying tumor cells during cancer treatment

Generally, the demise of cancer cells in different ways enables the body to clear these harmful cells. However, cancer cells obtain unlimited replication and immortality from successful circumvention of cell death via various mechanisms. Some evidence suggests that treatment-induced dying tumor cells even promote cancer progression. Notably, therapeutic interventions to harness the immune system against tumor cells have shown complicated influences in clinics. Herein, there is an urgent need to clarify the underlying mechanisms that influence the outcome and regulation of the immune system during cancer treatment. In this review, we provide an account on the cell death modes and the relationship between dying tumor cells with tumor immune microenvironment during cancer treatment, focusing on immunotherapy, from mechanistic standpoint to emerging limitations and future directions.

Automated summary

Cancer cells can evade cell death and obtain unlimited replication and immortality, which hinders the body from clearing them effectively. Furthermore, evidence suggests that dying tumor cells caused by treatment may even promote cancer progression. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms that influence the immune system during cancer treatment to improve outcomes. This review focuses on cell death modes, the relationship between dying tumor cells and tumor immune microenvironment, and emerging limitations and future directions in immunotherapy.