AUTHOR=Sun Wei , Zhang Qing , Wang Runkun , Li Yang , Sun Yue , Yang Lin 

TITLE=Targeting DNA Damage Repair for Immune Checkpoint Inhibition: Mechanisms and Potential Clinical Applications

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.648687

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.648687

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways play an essential role in maintaining genomic integrity. DDR dysfunction leads to accumulated DNA damage, predisposition to cancer, and high sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Recent studies have demonstrated that DDR status is associated with response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Among the DDR pathways, mismatch repair is the most recognized predictive biomarker for ICB. Furthermore, preclinical and early clinical studies suggest the rationale of combining agents targeting the DDR pathways with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In the present review, we describe the predictive role of DDR pathways in ICIs and summarize the advances in potential combination strategies of novel agents targeting DDR with ICIs for cancer treatment.