Toll样受体(Toll-like receptor, TLR)家族是感受病原体入侵的一类模式识别受体，目前在哺乳动物免疫系统中共发现11个成员，其中以TLR4最受关注。大部分肿瘤组织均表达TLR4；肿瘤细胞上TLR4激活后能以不同方式促进肿瘤的发生、发展、凋亡抵抗和侵袭、转移；TLR4参与肿瘤免疫逃逸除了外源性活化机制外，肿瘤微环境中的内源性配体同样可能发挥重要作用。TLR4有望成为肿瘤生物治疗的新靶点。

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is a group of pattern recognition receptors which can sense pathogen invasion; by now 11 TLR members have been identified in the mammalian immune system. Of all these TLRs, TLR4 received the most attention from scientists. TLR4 is expressed in a verity of tumors, and TLR4 activation can promote the development and progression, apoptosis resistance, and invasion and metastasis of tumors. Besides, the exogenous activation and endogenous ligands in tumor microenvironment may also play important roles in tumor immune escape triggered by TLR4. TLR4 is expected to become a new target for cancer biotherapy.

国家自然科学基金资助项目（No. 30771984； No.30972688）