Role of granzymes in cancer development, immunoregulation, and immunotherapy

Abstract

The killing potential and relative contribution of all granzymes in tumor elimination during immunotherapy as well as the extracellular roles of tumor microenvironment-associated granzymes in tumorigenesis and cancer immunity largely remain unclear. Knowledge on these issues may not only unravel novel mechanistic insights, but also may open new cancer (immuno)therapeutic avenues. In this thesis, we aim to investigate the roles of intracellular and extracellular granzymes in tumor elimination, tumor progression, and tumor immunity.