Processing and presentation of tumor antigens and vaccination strategies.
Various new aspects of antigen processing have been uncovered through the study of tumor antigens. One of these is the production of antigenic peptides by splicing of two distinct peptide fragments. In one of the two cases reported, the proteasome was found to be responsible for splicing. The presentation of another peptide on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules was found to depend on secretion and reuptake of the parent protein, implying a cross-presentation pathway in melanoma cells. Class II presentation of peptides derived from cytosolic proteins now appears to result from autophagy. Based on increased knowledge on antigen processing and presentation, new vaccination strategies are aimed at improving the targeting of antigens to dendritic cells, promoting cross-priming (for example, using chloroquine), improving peptide binding to class I molecules and targeting antigens to both the class I and the class II pathways.
van der Bruggen
Pierre
P
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Cellular Genetics Unit, Institute of Cellular Pathology, Université catholique de Louvain, 74 avenue Hippocrate, UCL 7459, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Van den Eynde
Benoît J
BJ
D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines