title: Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in advanced melanoma patients: Indirect impact on prognosis through inhibition of tumor-specific T-cell responses?
abstract: The percentage of circulating CD14+CD11b+HLA-DR-/lowmyeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) inversely correlates with survival among advanced melanoma patients. High levels of MDSCs are associated with the absence of T lymphocytes specific for melanoma-derived antigens, implying a causal and clinically relevant interaction between these cell subsets. MDSCs might therefore represent prognostic markers as well as targets for the development of novel therapeutic interventions against melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II; Section for Transplantation Immunology and Immunohematology; University of Tübingen; Tübingen, Germany ; Department of Dermatology; University Medical Center; Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology; University of Tübingen; Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zelba
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology; University Medical Center; Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II; Section for Transplantation Immunology and Immunohematology; University of Tübingen; Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pawelec
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology; University Medical Center; Tübingen, Germany ; Department of Immunology; University of Tübingen; Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weide
keywords: MDSCs; Melan-A; NY-ESO-1; antigen-specific T cells; melanoma; prognostic marker