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Literature Review Special Issue Palm Oil in Health and Technology
Investigations of palm oil components: a review of effects on immune checkpoint pathways and therapy
Loso Judijanto
Received: January 20, 2026 | Published: February 9, 2026
Citation: Judijanto L. Investigations of palm oil components: a review of effects on immune checkpoint pathways and therapy. Open Access J Sci. 2026;9(1):31-39. DOI: 10.15406/oajs.2026.09.00285
Abstract
Palm oil contains various bioactive components that have shown promising potential in modulating immune responses, particularly through immune checkpoint pathways that are critical in cancer immunotherapy. Understanding the effects of these components is essential for exploring novel adjunct therapies to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment. This study aims to systematically review the literature to investigate how components of palm oil influence immune checkpoint pathways and to assess their therapeutic potential and safety profile in cancer immunotherapy. Following PRISMA guidelines, a qualitative systematic literature review was conducted to ensure a precise and openly documented selection process. Articles were retrieved from ScienceDirect using specific keywords related to palm oil bioactives, immune checkpoints, and cancer therapy. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed, open-access articles published between 2022 and 2025. Data collection involved comprehensive database searches, screening, and extraction of relevant findings. Data analysis was conducted through thematic synthesis to identify key patterns and mechanistic insights regarding palm oil bioactives and immune modulation. The review synthesized findings from 33 selected articles, revealing that tocotrienols, carotenoids, and fatty acids present in palm oil regulate key immune checkpoints, including PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, which enhance tumor immunity and the efficacy of checkpoint blockade therapies. Additionally, these components demonstrate favorable safety profiles with minimal adverse effects reported. The study concludes that palm oil bioactives hold significant promise as adjuncts in cancer immunotherapy, although further clinical validation is needed. Future research should focus on large-scale clinical trials, optimization of bioavailability, and exploration of effects on emerging immune checkpoints.
Keywords: palm oil, immune checkpoint, tocotrienols, cancer immunotherapy, systematic literature review
©2026 Judijanto. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.