Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tumour immunity and immunotherapy

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have received considerable importance in cancer chemoprevention over the last few years. They are now being considered as prospective candidates in cancer immunotherapy because of their striking immune-enhancing impact on various effector elements of anti-tumour immunity on one hand, and to augment the efficacy of different anti-cancer immunotherapeutic strategies on the other. This review specifically discusses the role of NSAIDs in anti-tumour immunity by describing their immunomodulatory effects on different immune cells including tumour-associated macrophages (TAM), dendritic cells (DC), natural killer (NK) cells, T effector cells, and T regulatory cells (Treg). Secondly, the therapeutic perspective of NSAIDs in combination with different anti-cancer immunotherapeutic approaches, in particular the cancer vaccines, tumour-specific monoclonal antibodies, and cytokine-based therapy, has been outlined. At the end, the impact of anti-inflammatories other than NSAIDs on tumour immunity and immunotherapy, and the immunopharmacological potential of selective E-prostanoid (EP) receptor antagonists with respect to cancer immunity have also been discussed briefly.

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