Nanocarrier-Mediated Immunogenic Cell Death for Melanoma Treatment

Abstract

Melanoma, a highly aggressive skin tumor, exhibits notable features including heterogeneity, a high mutational load, and innate immune escape. Despite advancements in melanoma treatment, current immunotherapies fail to fully exploit the immune system’s maximum potential. Activating immunogenic cell death (ICD) holds promise in enhancing tumor cell immunogenicity, stimulating immune amplification response, improving drug sensitivity, and eliminating tumors. Nanotechnology-enabled ICD has emerged as a compelling therapeutic strategy for augmenting cancer immunotherapy. Nanoparticles possess versatile attributes, such as prolonged blood circulation, stability, and tumor-targeting capabilities, rendering them ideal for drug delivery. In this review, we elucidate the mechanisms underlying ICD induction and associated therapeutic strategies. Additionally, we provide a concise overview of the immune stress response associated with ICD and explore the potential synergistic benefits of combining ICD induction methods with the utilization of nanocarriers.

Keywords:

• immunogenic cell death
• melanoma
• immunotherapy
• damage associated molecular patterns
• nanocarrier

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This review was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82073385, 82172706 and 82003295), Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (No. 23ZR1478100).