Cancer immunotherapy holds great promise, yet its efficacy and applicability can be hampered by the rise of systemic toxicities. We have recently shown that the lethal side effects of cancer immunotherapy are markedly exacerbated with aging. Blocking tumor necrosis factor α or macrophages can alleviate the systemic toxicity of immunotherapy while preserving its antineoplastic effects.
Keywords: TNFα; aging; cancer immunotherapy; inflammation; macrophage; organ damage; pro-inflammatory cytokines.