Identifying multiple tumor-specific epitopes from large-scale screening for overexpressed mRNA.
The rationale of a T-cell epitope-based approach to cancer treatment is primarily rooted in the hypothesis that CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) can be manipulated to specifically identify and kill cancer cells. A solid understanding of CTL specificity and activation is a fundamental requirement for tumor immunotherapy. The means to identify tumor-specific CTL epitopes and to monitor corresponding CTL responses are important enabling technologies. Recent advances in these enabling technologies include their ability to exploit genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic information. These advances constitute new opportunities, which will enable approaches to tumor immunotherapy that encompass both human diversity and tumor heterogeneity, increase the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy and potentially provide the opportunity for individualized therapy.
Buus
Søren
S
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Medical Anatomy, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. sb@immi.ku.dk
Claesson
Mogens Helweg
MH
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000502:physiology*
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D012333:RNA, Messenger