Post-translational modifications of proteins in tumor immunotherapy and their potential as immunotherapeutic targets

Protein is an important component of life. Protein modification after translation enriches the diversity of protein, regulates the structure and function of a protein, and participates in more life processes. Recent studies have found that post-translational modifications of proteins can regulate the occurrence and development of tumors. The human immune system should be able to eliminate cancer cells through an acquired immune response executed by T cells. However, clinical detection of cancer cells often results from the failure of immune surveillance. Therefore, relieving immune suppression and restoring antitumor immune response provides the possibility for tumor therapy. Tumor immunotherapy refers to exogenous intervention of the body's immune system, restart and maintain the "tumor-immune" cycle, restore and improve the anti-immune response of the group, strengthen the recognition and killing ability of tumor cells, so as to achieve the therapeutic effect of controlling or even clarifying the tumor specifically. Here, we review current knowledge of the current status of tumor immunotherapy and the types and effects of post-translational modifications of proteins, hoping to improve new ideas for the types of therapies.