The occurrence of immune effector cells in the tissue microenvironment during neoplastic progression is critical in determining tumor growth outcomes. On the other hand, tumors may also avoid immune system-mediated elimination by recruiting immunosuppressive leukocytes and soluble factors, which coordinate a tumor microenvironment that counteracts the efficiency of the antitumor immune response. Checkpoint inhibitor therapy results have indicated a way forward via activation of the immune system against cancer. Widespread evidence has shown that different compounds in foods, when administered as purified substances, can act as immunomodulators in humans and animals. Although there is no universally accepted definition of nutraceuticals, the term identifies a wide category of natural compounds that may impact health and disease statuses and includes purified substances from natural sources, plant extracts, dietary supplements, vitamins, phytonutrients, and various products with combinations of functional ingredients.

In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of nutraceuticals with a special focus on the cancer microenvironment, highlighting the conceptual benefits or drawbacks and subtle cell-specific effects of nutraceuticals for envisioning future therapies employing nutraceuticals as chemoadjuvants.

肿瘤进展过程中组织微环境中免疫效应细胞的出现对于确定肿瘤生长结果至关重要。另一方面，肿瘤也可以通过募集免疫抑制性白细胞和可溶性因子来避免免疫系统介导的消除，这些因子协调了抵消抗肿瘤免疫反应效率的肿瘤微环境。检查点抑制剂治疗的结果表明了通过激活免疫系统对抗癌症的方法。广泛的证据表明，食物中的不同化合物，当作为纯化物质给药时，可以作为人类和动物的免疫调节剂。虽然没有普遍接受的营养保健品定义，

在这篇综述中，我们总结了目前关于营养食品免疫调节作用的知识，特别关注癌症微环境，强调了营养食品在概念上的优点或缺点以及微妙的细胞特异性效应，以设想使用营养食品作为化学佐剂的未来疗法。