Fig. 6

Harnessing innate immunity to improve antitumor immune response. The involvement of innate immunity is crucial for initiating and sustaining adaptive immunity, and it plays a significant role in the overall cancer-immunity cycle. When a tumor is detected, innate immune cells are activated, leading to the enhancement of their effector functions and the destruction of tumor cells. Apart from directly killing tumor cells, innate immune cells participate in priming, expanding, and infiltrating tumor-specific T-cells. Manipulating innate immunity by therapeutic strategies could effectively stimulate antitumor immune response and overcome immune evasion. Abbreviations: DC, dendritic cell; TAM, tumor-associated macrophage; NK cell, natural killer cell; MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cell; TME, tumor microenvironment; TCR, T cell receptor; MHC, major histocompatibility complex