Restoration of naive cell repertoire in the appropriate cytokine milieu: a model for preventing cancer relapses.
Tumour immunology has used the paradigm of infections to combat cancer. T cells have been found to have a major role in immunosurveillance against malignant cells. However, with few exceptions like donor leukocyte infusions for relapsed chronic myeloid leukaemia post-allogeneic stem cell transplant, immunological therapies have not yet found wide application in the control of most human cancers. We attribute this to two immunological problems in cancer patients. Firstly, we hypothesize that among all subsets of T cells it is the repertoire of nai;ve cells that is most important and specific for cancer immunity. Some forms of cancer treatment like chemotherapy often damage this very important cell. Secondly, the effector arm of immune response (T cells) is polarized away from the cancer-protecting type 1 phenotype (TH1 cells and type 1-cytokines) towards the type 2 phenotype. We propose that regeneration of nai;ve T cells (for e.g. by thymic transplants) in a type 1-cytokine milieu could be crucial to the prevention of relapses in patients who achieve complete remissions with conventional therapies.
D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055502:Secondary Prevention
D016207:Cytokines