Table 1

Tumor immune evasion strategies

DefectsImmune cell-based therapiesCombinations with immune cell–based therapies
Tumor-associated DC dysfunction Reduced DC numbers DCs generated ex vivo Posttransplant setting 
Immature or tolerogeneic DCs Engineered DCs Immunomodulatory drugs 
  Treg inhibition 
  Checkpoint inhibitors 
Tumor defective antigen presentation and costimulation Impaired antigen processing and presentation T cells, NKs, and NKTs expressing CARs Pharmacologic modulation of the epigenetic profile 
MHC downregulation and HLA loss Allogeneic NKs 
Lack of costimulatory molecules TCR-redirected T cells 
 EBV-specific T cells 
Tumor resistance to cytolysis and induction of immune exhaustion Loss of Fas/TRAIL-R T cells, NKs, and NKTs expressing CARs BCL-2 inhibitors 
Release of soluble death receptors TCR-redirected T cells Histone deacetylase inhibitors Proteasome inhibitors 
Overexpression of antiapoptotic molecules EBV-specific T cells Checkpoint inhibitors 
PD-L1 expression   
Tumor-associated immune-suppressive cells Increased Tregs, TAMs, and MDSCs DCs or engineered ex vivo expanded Posttransplant setting 
T cells, NKs, and NKTs expressing CARs Lymphodepletion 
Allogeneic NKs Selective elimination or reprogramming of Tregs, TAMs, and MDSCs 
TCR-redirected T cells  
EBV-specific T cells  
Tumor-associated soluble factors Immunosuppressive cytokines (IL10, IL6, TGF-β, VEGF) Additional T-cell engineering with dominant-negative receptors, chemokine receptors, favorable cytokines Lymphodepletion 
Chemokines (TARC) 
Tumor-altered immune metabolism Nutrient deprivation Additional T-cell engineering to manipulate cell metabolism Lymphodepletion 
Hypoxia IDO inhibitors 
IDO Adenosine receptor inhibitors 
DefectsImmune cell-based therapiesCombinations with immune cell–based therapies
Tumor-associated DC dysfunction Reduced DC numbers DCs generated ex vivo Posttransplant setting 
Immature or tolerogeneic DCs Engineered DCs Immunomodulatory drugs 
  Treg inhibition 
  Checkpoint inhibitors 
Tumor defective antigen presentation and costimulation Impaired antigen processing and presentation T cells, NKs, and NKTs expressing CARs Pharmacologic modulation of the epigenetic profile 
MHC downregulation and HLA loss Allogeneic NKs 
Lack of costimulatory molecules TCR-redirected T cells 
 EBV-specific T cells 
Tumor resistance to cytolysis and induction of immune exhaustion Loss of Fas/TRAIL-R T cells, NKs, and NKTs expressing CARs BCL-2 inhibitors 
Release of soluble death receptors TCR-redirected T cells Histone deacetylase inhibitors Proteasome inhibitors 
Overexpression of antiapoptotic molecules EBV-specific T cells Checkpoint inhibitors 
PD-L1 expression   
Tumor-associated immune-suppressive cells Increased Tregs, TAMs, and MDSCs DCs or engineered ex vivo expanded Posttransplant setting 
T cells, NKs, and NKTs expressing CARs Lymphodepletion 
Allogeneic NKs Selective elimination or reprogramming of Tregs, TAMs, and MDSCs 
TCR-redirected T cells  
EBV-specific T cells  
Tumor-associated soluble factors Immunosuppressive cytokines (IL10, IL6, TGF-β, VEGF) Additional T-cell engineering with dominant-negative receptors, chemokine receptors, favorable cytokines Lymphodepletion 
Chemokines (TARC) 
Tumor-altered immune metabolism Nutrient deprivation Additional T-cell engineering to manipulate cell metabolism Lymphodepletion 
Hypoxia IDO inhibitors 
IDO Adenosine receptor inhibitors 

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