Immune suppression is recognized as a hallmark of cancer and this notion is largely based on studies on cellular immunity. Our recent studies have demonstrated a potential new mechanism of cancer suppression of immunity by impairment of antibody effector function mediated by proteolytic enzymes in the tumor microenvironment.
Keywords: Antibody immunity; cancer immune evasion; single proteolytic cleavage of the IgG hinge; tumor microenvironment.