Recent advances in targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells and their applications to radiotherapy

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a group of heterogenous immature myeloid cells with potent immune suppressive properties that not only constrain anti-tumor immune activation and functions, promote tumor progression, but also contribute to treatment resistance and tumor relapse. Targeting MDSCs may be a promising new cancer treatment method, but there is still a problem of low treatment efficiency. Combined application with radiotherapy may be a potential method to solve this problem. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) provide more efficient targeted drug delivery capability and can reduce the toxicity and side effects of drugs. Recent advance in DDSs targeting development, recruitment, differentiation, and elimination of MDSCs have shown promising effect in reversing immune inhibition and in overcoming radiotherapy resistance. In this review, we systematically summarized DDSs applied to target MDSCs for the first time, and classified and discussed it according to its different mechanisms of action. In addition, this paper also reviewed the biological characteristics of MDSCs and their role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Moreover, this review also summarizes the role of DDSs targeting MDSCs in radiosensitization. Finally, the future development of DDSs targeting MDSCs is also prospected.