Overcoming Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer: Mechanisms, Models, and Therapeutic Strategies
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 20
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cancer vaccines; immune checkpoint inhibitors; antibody-drug conjugate; cancer immunoresistance; KRAS inhibitors
Interests: γδ T cell; NK cell; cancer immunotherapy; PD-1; IL-18; adoptive transfer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, offering durable clinical responses in multiple tumor types. However, resistance to these therapies remains a significant barrier to broader success. Primary resistance often arises in tumors with poor immune cell infiltration, such as excluded or desert phenotypes, while acquired resistance is frequently observed in inflamed tumors that initially respond but later relapse. The mechanisms driving resistance are multifactorial, involving intrinsic tumor cell alterations, including genetic and epigenetic changes, as well as extrinsic factors such as immune exhaustion and dynamic changes in the tumor microenvironment. This Special Issue will advance our understanding of the biological basis of ICI resistance and explore strategies to overcome these limitations. We welcome both original research articles and comprehensive reviews focusing on mechanistic studies, translational discoveries, and therapeutic interventions tested in preclinical cancer models. Particular emphasis will be placed on innovative approaches that enhance tumor immunogenicity, promote immune infiltration, restore immune activity, or synergize with existing treatments. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this Special Issue will accelerate the translation of experimental findings into clinical practice and ultimately improve outcomes for patients receiving immunotherapy.
Dr. Nai-Yun Sun
Prof. Dr. Yoshimasa Tanaka
Dr. Hsin-Fang Tu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- immune checkpoint inhibitors
- primary resistance
- acquired resistance
- tumor microenvironment
- immune exhaustion
- preclinical cancer models
- genetic and epigenetic alterations
- excluded/desert tumors
- inflamed tumors
- cancer immunotherapy
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