On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapy

With the coming of age of cancer immunotherapy, the search for new therapeutic targets has led to the identification of immunosuppressive adenosine as an important regulator of antitumor immunity. This resulted in the development of selective inhibitors targeting various components of the adenosiner...

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Main Authors: John Stagg, Bertrand Allard, David Allard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-05-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000186.full
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author John Stagg
Bertrand Allard
David Allard
author_facet John Stagg
Bertrand Allard
David Allard
author_sort John Stagg
collection DOAJ
description With the coming of age of cancer immunotherapy, the search for new therapeutic targets has led to the identification of immunosuppressive adenosine as an important regulator of antitumor immunity. This resulted in the development of selective inhibitors targeting various components of the adenosinergic pathway, including small molecules antagonists targeting the high affinity A2A adenosine receptor and low affinity A2B receptor, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecules targeting CD73 and therapeutic mAbs targeting CD39. As each regulator of the adenosinergic pathway present non-overlapping biologic functions, a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of each targeted approach should accelerate clinical translation and improve rational design of combination treatments. In this review, we discuss the potential mechanisms-of-action of anti-CD39 cancer therapy and potential toxicities that may emerge from sustained CD39 inhibition. Caution should be taken, however, in extrapolating data from gene-targeted mice to patients treated with blocking anti-CD39 agents. As phase I clinical trials are now underway, further insights into the mechanism of action and potential adverse events associated with anti-CD39 therapy are anticipated in coming years.
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spelling doaj-art-ef83d9f96a6a4ad79cfe56774d65ca6a2025-08-20T02:13:12ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262020-05-018110.1136/jitc-2019-000186On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapyJohn Stagg0Bertrand Allard1David Allard2CHUM Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, CanadaAff1 grid.14848.310000000122923357CRCHUM, Montreal Cancer InstituteMontreal University Montréal PQ CanadaFaculty of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier de L`Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaWith the coming of age of cancer immunotherapy, the search for new therapeutic targets has led to the identification of immunosuppressive adenosine as an important regulator of antitumor immunity. This resulted in the development of selective inhibitors targeting various components of the adenosinergic pathway, including small molecules antagonists targeting the high affinity A2A adenosine receptor and low affinity A2B receptor, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecules targeting CD73 and therapeutic mAbs targeting CD39. As each regulator of the adenosinergic pathway present non-overlapping biologic functions, a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of each targeted approach should accelerate clinical translation and improve rational design of combination treatments. In this review, we discuss the potential mechanisms-of-action of anti-CD39 cancer therapy and potential toxicities that may emerge from sustained CD39 inhibition. Caution should be taken, however, in extrapolating data from gene-targeted mice to patients treated with blocking anti-CD39 agents. As phase I clinical trials are now underway, further insights into the mechanism of action and potential adverse events associated with anti-CD39 therapy are anticipated in coming years.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000186.full
spellingShingle John Stagg
Bertrand Allard
David Allard
On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapy
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapy
title_full On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapy
title_fullStr On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapy
title_full_unstemmed On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapy
title_short On the mechanism of anti-CD39 immune checkpoint therapy
title_sort on the mechanism of anti cd39 immune checkpoint therapy
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000186.full
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