Current patent and clinical status of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists for cancer immunotherapy

摘要

Immunotherapy has in recent years shown its potential to transform the treatment of cancer through triggering antitumor T cell responses via immune checkpoint blockade. This approach has led to outstanding responses in previously untreatable tumors. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) has now been revealed as a key player in the field and a critical mediator of innate immune-sensing of cancer, and in turn, as a promising target for immunotherapy. Pharmacological activation of the host STING pathway can trigger T cell-mediated tumor regression and make immunologically 'cold' tumors 'hot'. This can help to overcome local immunosuppressive environments as seen in cancer, and can increase the effectiveness of classical immune checkpoint blockade.