B‐cell performance in chemotherapy: Unravelling the mystery of B‐cell therapeutic potential

Abstract

Abstract Background and main body The anti‐tumour and tumour‐promoting roles of B cells in the tumour microenvironment (TME) have gained considerable attention in recent years. As essential orchestrators of humoral immunity, B cells potentially play a crucial role in anti‐tumour therapies. Chemotherapy, a mainstay in cancer treatment, influences the proliferation and function of diverse B‐cell subsets and their crosstalk with the TME. Modulating B‐cell function by targeting B cells or their associated cells may enhance chemotherapy efficacy, presenting a promising avenue for future targeted therapy investigations. Conclusion This review explores the intricate interplay between chemotherapy and B cells, underscoring the pivotal role of B cells in chemotherapy treatment. We summarise promising B‐cell‐related therapeutic targets, illustrating the immense potential of B cells in anti‐tumour therapy. Our work lays a theoretical foundation for harnessing B cells in chemotherapy and combination strategies for cancer treatment. Key points Chemotherapy can inhibit B‐cell proliferation and alter subset distributions and functions, including factor secretion, receptor signalling, and costimulation. Chemotherapy can modulate complex B‐cell–T‐cell interactions with variable effects on anti‐tumour immunity. Targeting B‐cell surface markers or signalling improves chemotherapy responses, blocks immune evasion and inhibits tumour growth. Critical knowledge gaps remain regarding B‐cell interactions in TME, B‐cell chemoresistance mechanisms, TLS biology, heterogeneity, spatial distributions, chemotherapy drug selection and B‐cell targets that future studies should address.

Keywords

• anti‐tumour therapy
• B cells
• chemotherapy
• neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT)
• targeting B cells
• tumour microenvironment (TME)