Figure 1.

Cell–Cell interactions are the pharmacological basis of immunotherapy. The primary pharmacological mechanism of immunotherapy entails the activation or engagement of diverse immune cell populations to identify and eradicate cancer cells. This crucial process heavily relies on the dynamic interplay between immune cells and cancer cells within the TME. Within the TME, immune cells, including T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and macrophages, establish various types of interactions with cancer cells. These interactions encompass intricate molecular signaling pathways, direct cell-to-cell contact, and the exchange of soluble factors. The ultimate objective of immunotherapeutic approaches is to either alleviate immune suppressive interactions within the TME or activate immune effector functions, thereby unleashing the anti-cancer pharmacological effects of immunotherapy.