Introduction: Adoptive T-cell treatments of solid cancers have 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 β-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 β-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 β-glucans, extended with effects of β-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, β-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 β-glucans provides an accessible and immune-potentiating adjuvant when combined with adoptive T-cell treatments of cancer.
KEYWORDS:
Adopt
This 2018 expert opinion examined the potential of β-glucans to enhance T cell-based cancer immunotherapy, addressing the growing interest in combining immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive T cell therapies with natural immunomodulators.
β-glucans can prime macrophages and dendritic cells to create a more favorable tumor microenvironment for T cell anti-tumor activity. By enhancing innate immune responses, β-glucans may overcome immunosuppression within tumors and amplify T cell effector function. The review highlighted synergistic potential when β-glucans are combined with T cell-based immunotherapy.
This positions beta glucan as a potential adjuvant to modern cancer immunotherapy. Aureobasidium pullulans β-glucan's innate immune priming activity could complement T cell therapies and checkpoint inhibitors, representing an exciting frontier for AP-glucan clinical research.
AI-generated summary for accessibility. Always refer to the original paper.
de Graaff P., Govers C., Wichers H., Debets R.. Consumption of β-glucans to spice up T cell treatment of tumors: a review. Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. 2018. DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1523392.
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