The Immune Contexture and Cancer Therapy Aspects of the TIM-3 Checkpoint Pathway

Abstract

The advent of immune checkpoint therapy revolutionizes the oncology field by achieving durable anti-tumor efficacy and immense clinical progress. Among the immune checkpoints, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) has been reported to express on both innate and adaptive immune cells where it accounts for immune tolerance and tumor aggression. It shows promising effects that are applicable in several cancer types. This review provides a broad overview of the main TIM-3 relative signaling pathways and its immune regulatory role to shape cancer development positively. The importance of TIM-3 inhibitors in cancer control were also summarized according to the latest reports, discussing its clinical trial data that inform the rationale for TIM-3 blockade.