title: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, a role in neoplastic prevention and progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are multifunctional bone-marrow-derived immune cells that are key players in bridging the innate and adaptive immune systems. Activation of pDCs through toll-like receptor agonists has proven to be an effective treatment for some neoplastic disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this mini-review, we will explore the fascinating contribution of pDCs to neoplastic pathology and discuss their potential utilization in cancer immunotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current research suggests that pDCs have cytotoxic potential and can effectively induce apoptosis of tumour-derived cells lines. They are also reported to display tolerogenic function with the ability to suppress T-cell proliferation, analogous to regulatory T cells. In this capacity, they are critical in the suppression of autoimmunity but can be exploited by tumour cells to circumvent the expansion of tumour-specific T cells, thereby allowing tumours to persist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several forms of skin cancer are successfully treated with the topical drug Imiquimod, which activates pDCs through toll-like receptor 7 engagement. Additionally, pDC-based anticancer vaccines have shown encouraging results for the treatment of melanoma in early trials. Future studies regarding the contributions of pDCs to malignancy will likely afford many opportunities for immunotherapy strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA; Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Vincent C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Svetlana F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Khaiboullina
authors.forename: Albert A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rizvanov
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7 / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000819:agonists / Q000276:immunology; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; C495348:TLR7 protein, human; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D000077271:Imiquimod
keywords: Cancer; immunity; pDC; plasmacytoid dendritic cells; tolerance; tumour