Metabolic Checkpoints: Novel Avenues for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Ivan Shevchenko, Alexandr V. Bazhin

Novel therapies targeting immune checkpoint molecules have redefined the treatment of cancer at advanced stages and brought hope to millions of patients worldwide. Monoclonal antibodies targeting immune-inhibitory receptors often lead to complete and objective responses as well as to durable progression-free survival where all other therapeutic approaches fail. Yet, many tumors show significant resistance to checkpoint blockade through mechanisms that are only starting to come to light. An alluring alternative strategy to reinvigorate anticancer immune responses comes from the emerging field of immuno-metabolism. Over the past few years, numerous studies revealed that many well-known metabolic playmakers also serve as critical checkpoints in immune homeostasis and immunity against tumors. Here, we survey recent insights into the intimate and intertwining links between T cell metabolic programs and environmental cues in the tumor milieu. Transferring these new findings from the bench to the bedside may soon entirely re-shape the field of cancer immunotherapy and significantly improve the lives of patients.