Strategies and challenges in eliciting immunity to melanoma.
The ability of CD8+ T cells to recognize melanoma tumors has led to the development of immunotherapeutic approaches that use the antigens CD8+ T cells recognize. However, clinical response rates have been disappointing. Here we summarize our work to understand the mechanisms of self-tolerance that limit responses to currently utilized antigens and our approach to identify new antigens directly tied to malignancy. We also explore several aspects of the anti-tumor immune response induced by peptide-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs). DCs differentially augment the avidity of recall T cells specific for self-antigens and overcome a process of aberrant CD8+ T-cell differentiation that occurs in tumor-draining lymph nodes. DC migration is constrained by injection route, resulting in immune responses in localized lymphoid tissue, and differential control of tumors depending on their location in the body. We demonstrate that CD8+ T-cell differentiation in different lymphoid compartments alters the expression of homing receptor molecules and leads to the presence of systemic central memory cells. Our studies highlight several issues that must be addressed to improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy.
Ferguson
Andrew R
AR
Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Nichols
Lisa A
LA
Zarling
Angela L
AL
Thompson
Elizabeth D
ED
Brinkman
C Colin
CC
Hargadon
Kristian M
KM
Bullock
Timothy N
TN
Engelhard
Victor H
VH
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D045142:Cross-Priming; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010748:Phosphopeptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D010748:Phosphopeptides; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase