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Fig. 2 | Cancer Cell International

Fig. 2

From: Combination therapy with oncolytic viruses and immune checkpoint inhibitors in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: an approach of complementary advantages

Fig. 2

The mechanism of the immune system killing tumor cells and the mechanism of ICIs. The immune system of humans has an immune surveillance function. When tumors occur and develop, the body's immune system will kill the tumor cells as shown in the figure below. However, proteins on the surface of immune cells that prevent the over-activation of the immune system, i.e., immune checkpoints, are overexpressed and thus continuously send inhibitory signals to the immune system, resulting in tumor immune escape. For example, CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1 are representative immune checkpoints. Thus, blocking the signal pathway of immune checkpoint interaction may be a powerful tool for tumor treatment

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Cancer Cell International

ISSN: 1475-2867

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