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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2018 Feb 23;39(4):424–436. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2018.02.001

Figure 2. CD38 targeted therapy in cancer.

Figure 2

CD38 has at least two potential roles in cancer therapy. First, cytotoxic anti-CD38 antibodies can promote the killing of CD38 positive cancer cells via direct and indirect effects. On the other hand, CD38 expression in immune cells, cancer cells and other cells in the tumor micro environment may cause a decrease in tissue NAD levels that has a negative effect in the immune-response against the tumor. Thus, small molecule CD38 inhibitors (smCD38i), or monoclonal antibodies that inhibit CD38 activity (CD38imAB) can promote an increase in tissue NAD levels and a positive anti-tumor immune response.