Classes of therapeutics to amplify the immune response

Abstract

Purpose: Conventional chemotherapies are a mainstay for metastatic breast cancers, though durable response is rare. Immunotherapies promise long-term responses thorough immune activation but have been underwhelming in breast cancer relative to other cancer types. Here, we review the mechanisms of existing strategies including chemotherapies and how they may cause breast cancers to become immunogenic to identify potential biomarkers for combinations of conventional and immunotherapies. Conclusion: Mechanistic considerations should inform biomarker development and patient selection for therapeutic combinations of drugs to combine with immune-checkpoint inhibitors.