The therapeutic potential of targeting tryptophan catabolism in cancer

Based on its effects on both tumour cell intrinsic malignant properties as well as anti-tumour immune responses, tryptophan catabolism has emerged as an important metabolic regulator of cancer progression. Three enzymes, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 and 2 (IDO1/2) and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TD...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Opitz, Christiane (Author) , Platten, Michael (Author) , Trump, Saskia (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 2020
In: British journal of cancer
Year: 2019, Volume: 122, Issue: 1, Pages: 30-44
ISSN:1532-1827
DOI:10.1038/s41416-019-0664-6
Online Access:Verlag, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-019-0664-6
Verlag: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-019-0664-6
Get full text
Author Notes:Christiane A. Opitz, Luis F. Somarribas Patterson, Soumya R. Mohapatra, Dyah L. Dewi, Ahmed Sadik, Michael Platten and Saskia Trump
Description
Summary:Based on its effects on both tumour cell intrinsic malignant properties as well as anti-tumour immune responses, tryptophan catabolism has emerged as an important metabolic regulator of cancer progression. Three enzymes, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 and 2 (IDO1/2) and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2), catalyse the first step of the degradation of the essential amino acid tryptophan (Trp) to kynurenine (Kyn). The notion of inhibiting IDO1 using small-molecule inhibitors elicited high hopes of a positive impact in the field of immuno-oncology, by restoring anti-tumour immune responses and synergising with other immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibition. However, clinical trials with IDO1 inhibitors have yielded disappointing results, hence raising many questions. This review will discuss strategies to target Trp-degrading enzymes and possible down-stream consequences of their inhibition. We aim to provide comprehensive background information on Trp catabolic enzymes as targets in immuno-oncology and their current state of development. Details of the clinical trials with IDO1 inhibitors, including patient stratification, possible effects of the inhibitors themselves, effects of pre-treatments and the therapies the inhibitors were combined with, are discussed and mechanisms proposed that might have compensated for IDO1 inhibition. Finally, alternative approaches are suggested to circumvent these problems.
Item Description:Published: 10 December 2019
Gesehen am 20.02.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1532-1827
DOI:10.1038/s41416-019-0664-6