Human tumor-specific T lymphocytes: does function matter more than number?
In recent years, several clinical trials have involved the vaccination of cancer patients with tumor-specific antigens that are recognized by T lymphocytes. Anti-vaccine T-cell responses in these patients have been monitored on the assumption that their magnitude would correlate with clinical efficacy. Although analysis of these data show that such a correlation is emerging, detailed analyses of the few patients who benefit clinically from the vaccinations suggest that the function of the anti-vaccine T cells might be more important than their number. Recent studies show that in cancer patients numerous tumor-specific T cells appear to be quiescent in the presence of the tumor. Understanding how an efficient vaccine interferes with this coexistence is one of the current challenges of cancer immunotherapy.
Coulie
Pierre G
PG
Institute of Cellular Pathology, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 74, UCL 7459, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. coulie@gece.ucl.ac.be
Connerotte
Thierry
T
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines