title: Targeting costimulatory molecules to improve antitumor immunity.
abstract: The full activation of T cells necessitates the concomitant activation of two signals, the engagement of T-cell receptor by peptide/major histocompatibility complex II and an additional signal delivered by costimulatory molecules. The best characterized costimulatory molecules belong to B7/CD28 and TNF/TNFR families and play crucial roles in the modulation of immune response and improvement of antitumor immunity. Unfortunately, tumors often generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment, where T-cell response is attenuated by the lack of costimulatory molecules on the surface of cancer cells. Thus, targeting costimulatory pathways represent an attractive therapeutic strategy to enhance the antitumor immunity in several human cancers. Here, latest therapeutic approaches targeting costimulatory molecules will be described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capece
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verzella
authors.forename: Mariafausta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischietti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zazzeroni
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alesse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060887:B7 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D060887:B7 Antigens; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha