Hao, H., Jianyu, X., Junxiang, W., Jianglin, W., Jiayao, L., & Zhongxiao, L. (2026). Cardio-immuno-oncology in cardiac tumors and cardiac metastases: immune microenvironment, therapeutic opportunities, and cardiotoxicity.. Frontiers in immunology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1877480
Hao H, Jianyu X, Junxiang W, Jianglin W, Jiayao L, Zhongxiao L. Cardio-immuno-oncology in cardiac tumors and cardiac metastases: immune microenvironment, therapeutic opportunities, and cardiotoxicity.. Frontiers in immunology. 2026; doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1877480
Hao H, Jianyu X, Junxiang W, et al. Cardio-immuno-oncology in cardiac tumors and cardiac metastases: immune microenvironment, therapeutic opportunities, and cardiotoxicity.[J]. Frontiers in immunology. 2026. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1877480.
@article{hao2026,
author = {He Hao and Xiong Jianyu and Wang Junxiang and Wang Jianglin and Li Jiayao and Lin Zhongxiao},
title = {Cardio-immuno-oncology in cardiac tumors and cardiac metastases: immune microenvironment, therapeutic opportunities, and cardiotoxicity.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1877480},
note = {PMID: 42827728},
}
TY - JOUR AU - He Hao AU - Xiong Jianyu AU - Wang Junxiang AU - Wang Jianglin AU - Li Jiayao AU - Lin Zhongxiao TI - Cardio-immuno-oncology in cardiac tumors and cardiac metastases: immune microenvironment, therapeutic opportunities, and cardiotoxicity. T2 - Frontiers in immunology PY - 2026 DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1877480 AN - PMID:42827728 ER -
Primary cardiac tumors are rare, whereas cardiac metastases are more common forms of cardiac involvement in patients with advanced malignancies; both are clinically important because of their potential cardiovascular consequences. This review summarizes current evidence on the immune microenvironment, immune-evasion mechanisms, immunotherapeutic opportunities, multi-omics-based immune decoding, and cardiovascular toxicity in cardiac tumors and cardiac metastases. Cardiac myxoma is discussed as a benign primary cardiac tumor with inflammatory, cytokine-mediated, metabolic, and candidate immune-regulatory features, whereas malignant primary cardiac tumors, particularly cardiac sarcomas such as cardiac angiosarcoma, are reviewed in relation to immunosuppressive niches, macrophage-rich microenvironments, T-cell dysfunction, and heterogeneous responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cardiac metastases are considered as a clinically relevant setting in which immunotherapy may be feasible for selected patients with careful cardiovascular assessment. Key mechanisms discussed include immune checkpoint pathways, tumor-associated macrophages, metabolic reprogramming, cytokine signaling, vascular abnormalities, and spatial immune organization. The review also highlights the role of single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and integrative multi-omics approaches in defining tumor-specific immune landscapes and potential biomarkers. Finally, immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated cardiotoxicity, particularly myocarditis, is discussed with emphasis on baseline cardiovascular assessment, biomarker monitoring, multimodality imaging, and multidisciplinary cardio-oncology management.