Research progress on the role of adenosine pathway in tumor immunity

A variety of mechanisms help tumor escape from the recognition and killing by the body immune system. In recent years, the adenosine pathway has been found to play an important role in tumor immune evasion. Adenosine is produced from extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the presence of two ectonucleotidases (CD39 and CD73), and exerts specific functions through binding to its receptors [mainly adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)]. Studies have suggested that the adenosine pathway can be over-activated in the tumor micro-environment, and thus promoting tumor development and progression by generating the immuno-suppressive signals. This review talked about the role of the adenosine pathway in regulating tumor immunity and its potential clinical application value. At the same time, the latest research evidence of adenosine-pathway-related targeted drugs is evaluated and summarized to provide a comprehensive reference for understanding the significance of the adenosine pathway in cancer management. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2021.06.14