Reactive Oxygen Species and Antitumor Immunity—From Surveillance to Evasion
Andromachi Kotsafti, Marco Scarpa, Marco Scarpa, Ignazio Castagliuolo, Melania Scarpa, Melania Scarpa
Abstract
The immune system is a crucial regulator of tumor biology with the capacity to support or inhibit cancer development, growth, invasion and metastasis. Emerging evidence show that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are not only mediators of oxidative stress but also players of immune regulation in tumor development. This review intends to discuss the mechanism by which ROS can affect the anti-tumor immune response, with particular emphasis on their role on cancer antigenicity, immunogenicity and shaping of the tumor immune microenvironment. Given the complex role that ROS play in the dynamics of cancer-immune cell interaction, further investigation is needed for the development of effective strategies combining ROS manipulation and immunotherapies for cancer treatment.