title: Targeting regulatory T cells in cancer.
abstract: Infiltration of tumors by regulatory T cells confers growth and metastatic advantages by inhibiting antitumor immunity and by production of receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) ligand, which may directly stimulate metastatic propagation of RANK-expressing cancer cells. Modulation of regulatory T cells can enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Strategies include depletion, interference with function, inhibition of tumoral migration, and exploitation of T-cell plasticity. Problems with these strategies include a lack of specificity, resulting in depletion of antitumor effector T cells or global interruption of regulatory T cells, which may predispose to autoimmune diseases. Emerging technologies, such as RNA interference and tetramer-based targeting, may have the potential to improve selectivity and efficacy.
authors: Cork Cancer Research Centre, Mercy University Hospital and Leslie C. Quick Jnr. Laboratory, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: William L
authors: WL
authors: Byrne
authors: Kingston H G
authors: KH
authors: Mills
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Lederer
authors: Gerald C
authors: GC
authors: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors