Targeting TNFR2 in Cancer: All Roads Lead to Rome

Jingchao Bai; Bowen Ding; Hui Li

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.844931

Targeting TNFR2 in Cancer: All Roads Lead to Rome

Front Immunol. 2022 Feb 17:13:844931. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844931. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jingchao Bai^{1

2

3}, Bowen Ding^{2

3

4}, Hui Li^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
² Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
³ National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
⁴ Department of Breast Oncoplastic Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Abstract

TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) has become one of the best potential immune checkpoints that might be targeted, mainly because of its vital role in tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Overexpression of TNFR2 in some tumor cells and essential function in immunosuppressive cells, especially regulatory T cells (Tregs), makes blocking TNFR2 an excellent strategy in cancer treatment; however, there is evidence showing that activating TNFR2 can also inhibit tumor progression in vivo. In this review, we will discuss drugs that block and activate TNFR2 under clinical trials or preclinical developments up till now. Meanwhile, we summarize and explore the possible mechanisms related to them.

Keywords: TNFR2; Treg; agonist; antagonist; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Neoplasms* / therapy
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II*
Rome
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II