Current status of dendritic cells in immunotherapy and implications for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion

Advanced cancer may progress to malignant pleural effusion (MPE), significantly impairing patients’ quality of living and leading to poor prognosis, while traditional treatments offer limited efficacy. Anti-angiogenic therapy and immunotherapy hold promise for controlling cancer progression. However, dendritic cells (DCs)-based immunotherapies remain relatively uncommon. This review outlines the biological basis of DCs and summarizes recent research advances in DCs-based immunotherapy. We analyze the unique immune microenvironment characteristics of MPE and the mechanisms of DCs dysfunction. DCs-based immunotherapy targeting MPE may reverse the pleural immune microenvironment. We summarize basic research and preclinical evidence on the local pleural application of DCs immunotherapy. There is an urgent need for effective evidence of DCs-based immunotherapy in controlling MPE progression to provide a theoretical basis for treating MPE.