Cancer immunoediting, PD-L1 expression, CTLA-4 and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density, and chemoradiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has the largest global disease-associated burden of all conditions. Much recent medical research has focused on this to develop more effective therapeutic options with fewer adverse effects. Combining more modern biologically based therapies, such as immunotherapy, with traditional techniques may be a promising way to treat various malignancies. A component of cancer therapy that has received little attention is cancer immunoediting, which takes place in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Immune checkpoint molecules that influence the host’s anti-tumor immunity through co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory means are one class of participants in the immunoediting process. Changes in many different immunologic pathways are involved. Current research has demonstrated that traditional cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and combined chemoradiotherapy, change the TME’s immune compartment. These modifications comprise a broad spectrum of variances, such as changes in the immunologic type and density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and modifications to the expression patterns of several immunological checkpoints. The consequences of these rearrangements may either strengthen or weaken anti-tumor immunity. Therefore, understanding the effects of different chemo(radio)therapeutic regimens in the TME appears crucial for the advancement of treatment strategies. Based on recent research, the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of how chemo(radio)therapy impacts the TME, focusing on the expression of some of the most significant and well-known immunological checkpoints.