Features of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in endometrial cancer based on molecular subtype

Abstract

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the three most prevalent gynecological tumors affecting women and is the most prevalent gynecological malignancy in the developed world. Its incidence is rapidly increasing worldwide, mostly affecting postmenopausal women, whereas recently its prevalence has increased in younger people. EC is an immune gene disease and many studies have shown that the tumor-immunosuppressive microenvironment plays an important role in cancer progression. In recent years, findings regarding the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME) of EC have included immune evasion mechanisms and immunotherapy, which are mostly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for EC. Recently studies on the ITME of different molecular types of EC have found that different molecular types may have different ITME. With the research on the immune microenvironment of EC, a new immunophenotype classification based on the immune microenvironment has been carried out in recent years. However, the impact of the ITME on EC remains unclear, and the immunophenotype of EC remains limited to the research stage. Our review describes recent findings regarding the ITME features of different EC molecular types. The advent of immunotherapy has brought hope for improved efficacy and prognosis in patients with advanced or recurrent EC. The efficacy and safety of ICIs combination therapy remains the focus of future research.

The Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of POLE-Mutated Endometrial Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

“…Consequently, additional investigation is warranted to elucidate the immune microenvironment and specific immune suppression pathways in POLE-mut EC, which could potentially lead to novel therapeutic interventions for advanced-stage POLE-mutant tumors. [50][51][52] Detection and Alternative Testing Methods for Pathogenic POLE Mutations…”

The Deep Proteomics Approach Identified Extracellular Vesicular Proteins Correlated to Extracellular Matrix in Type One and Two Endometrial Cancer

“…Indeed, ECs, as with many other tumor types, behave as complex organ-like systems in which cancer cells undergo dynamic interactions with stomal cells and with the extracellular matrix, shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME). These interactions can both support cancer growth and survival and, vice versa, limit it, triggering an immune response [7]. In particular, ECM components confer unique physical, biochemical, and biomechanical properties that are essential for regulating cell behavior [8].…”