Tissue-Specific Immunoregulation: A Call for Better Understanding of the “Immunostat” in the Context of Cancer

Checkpoint inhibitor therapy has been a breakthrough in cancer research, but only some patients with cancer derive substantial benefit. Although mechanisms underlying sensitivity and resistance to checkpoint inhibitors are being elucidated, the importance of organ-specific regulation of immunity is currently underappreciated. Here, we call for a greater understanding of tissue-specific immunoregulation, namely, “tissue-specific immunostats,” to make advances in treatments for cancer. A better understanding of how individual organs at baseline regulate the immune system could enable an improved precision medicine approach to cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Discov; 8(4); 395–402. ©2018 AACR .