Exploiting regulatory T-cell populations for the immunotherapy of cancer.
Tumor escape from the immune system hampers effective immunotherapy for cancer. Recent evidence indicates that in cancer patients the altered activities of 2 innatelike ("natural") immunoregulatory T-cell populations could prevent the establishment of effective antitumor immune responses. These are CD4+ CD25+ (natural) regulatory T cells and invariant natural killer T cells, which normally play critical roles in orchestrating immune responses to self and nonself. Therapeutic modulation of these regulatory T-cell populations is clinically feasible and will potentially allow the induction of effective antitumor immune responses when combined with currently available immunotherapeutic strategies.
Cancer Biology Program, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Hans J J
HJ
van der Vliet
Henry B
HB
Koon
Michael B
MB
Atkins
Steven P
SP
Balk
Mark A
MA
Exley
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007167:Immunotherapy; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019139:Tumor Escape
D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit