title: Biological properties of dendritic cells: implications to their use in the treatment of cancer.
abstract: Dendritic cells are the principal initiators of antigen-specific immune responses. The mechanisms by which they activate resting, naive T cells are increasingly well understood. Dendritic cells have several molecules on their surface that are critical for T-cell activation; they secrete multiple soluble factors that are important for T-cell differentiation and growth; and they home to areas in lymphoid organs that are rich in effector T cells. This knowledge has led to the belief that delivery of antigens with dendritic cells that have been manipulated ex vivo could stimulate powerful cellular immune responses against tumors. Pilot clinical trials indicate that dendritic cell vaccines can induce efficacious tumor-specific immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Activated Cell Therapy Inc., Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: van Schooten
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strang
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palathumpat
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD