title: Anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) immunotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer.
abstract: Costimulatory pathway ligands and receptors can deliver either positive or negative signals to help determine the ultimate fate of activated T lymphocytes. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) represents one of the most extensively studied receptors in the costimulatory pathway and has recently been shown to function as a potent inhibitor of T cell-mediated immunity. T-cell expression of CTLA-4 indirectly facilitates tumor progression by restraining host antitumoral immunity. In contrast, administration of a monoclonal antibody to block CTLA-4 function can alleviate restraints on T-cell activity to promote immune-mediated tumor regression. We review the preclinical and clinical experience with CTLA-4 blockade as a promising immunotherapeutic approach to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: R Houston
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Eugene D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human