Potential immunotherapy targets in recurrent cervical cancer

While cytotoxic T cells are present in tumor tissue to varying degrees, their density is lower than in peritumoral stroma, suggesting intratumoral exclusion or destruction of T cells. Higher densities of intratumoral macrophages compared to regulatory T cells suggest macrophages may be important contributors to the immunosuppressive tumor environment. Future directions for combination therapy include altering T cell trafficking and targeting tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) to enhance intratumoral activated T cell density and effect a more robust immune response.