Immunologic function of dendritic cells in esophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer is one of the frequently occurring malignant cancers. The current therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination, is only to palliate the symptoms; overall the prognosis is poor. The immunotherapy of dendritic cells for esophageal cancer is a valuable method. Dendritic cells existing in the esophageal tissues play an important role in the host's immunosurveillance against cancer as the professional antigen-presenting cells. This review concerns the immunology of dendritic cells in esophageal cancer; it describes the expression of DCs in the normal esophageal tissues and benign disease of esophagus, relations between the DCs and cancer development in esophageal cancer, and the DC-based approach to establish treatment for esophageal cancer.
Yang
Wenfeng
W
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jiyan Road 440, Jinan 250117, Shandong Province, PR China, sdthywf@yahoo.com.cn
Yu
Jinming
J
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm