MINI REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1620807
This article is part of the Research TopicDeciphering the Complex Interplay of Cancer Stem Cells and Immune Dynamics in the Tumor Microenvironment and Metastatic NichesView all 5 articles
Targeting CSC-Immune Cell Crosstalk to Overcome Chemoresistance and Enhance Immunotherapy Efficacy
Provisionally accepted
Jianbao Gong*
Guanxiao Yu- Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, China
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Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor cells that play crucial roles in driving tumor recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to therapies, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Growing evidence suggests that interactions between CSCs and immune cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells, create a supportive tumor microenvironment conducive to immune evasion and chemoresistance. Understanding these intricate crosstalk mechanisms, mediated via cytokines, exosomes, and metabolic intermediates, is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we comprehensively review recent progress on CSC-immune cell crosstalk, highlighting key signaling pathways and molecular targets. Furthermore, we discuss promising clinical strategies combining conventional therapies with interventions targeting CSC-immune interactions, aiming to enhance immunotherapy efficacy and overcome therapeutic resistance in cancer patients.
Keywords: cancer stem cells (CSCs), tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), Immune Evasion, therapy resistance, CSC-Immune Crosstalk
Received: 30 Apr 2025; Accepted: 07 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Gong and Yu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jianbao Gong, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, China
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