Overcoming resistance to PD-1 inhibitors: the synergistic anti-tumor effect with inflammatory factors.

Tumors can evade immunity through the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy across a broad range of cancer types. However, the poor response of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors monotherapy limits their clinical application. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and inflammatory factors exhibit synergistic anti-tumor effects. Inflammatory factors can regulate the expression of PD-L1 and affect the occurrence and development of tumors. Therefore, the combination of inflammatory factors and PD-1 inhibitors is a reasonable way to overcome the primary resistance of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. However, the potential clinical risk of cytokine storm associated with this combination strategy warrants significant attention. This article reviews the interaction between inflammatory factors and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and discusses the possibility of combining inflammatory factors and PD-1 inhibitors to reverse this resistance.