Consumption of -glucans to spice up T cell treatment of tumors: a review

Introduction: Adoptive T-cell treatments of solid cancershave evolved into a robust therapy with objective response rates surpassing those of standardized treatments. Unfortunately, only a limited fraction of patients shows durable responses, which is considered to be due to a T cell-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we argue that naturally occurring -glucans can enable reversion of such T cell suppression by engaging innate immune cells and enhancing numbers and function of lymphocyte effectors.Areas covered: This review summarizes timely reports with respect to absorption, trafficking and immune stimulatory effects of -glucans, particularly in relation to innate immune cells. Furthermore, we list effects toward well-being and immune functions in healthy subjects as well as cancer patients treated with orally administered -glucans, extended with effects of -glucan treatments in mouse cancer models.Expert opinion: Beta-glucans, when present in food and following uptake in the proximal gut, stimulate immune cells present in gut-associated lymphoid tissue and initiate highly conserved pro-inflammatory pathways. When tested in mouse cancer models, -glucans result in better control of tumor growth and shift the TME toward a T cell-sensitive environment. Along these lines, we advocate that intake of -glucans provides an accessible and immune-potentiating adjuvant when combined with adoptive T-cell treatments of cancer.