Antigen-presenting dendritic cells as targets for cancer immunotherapy

Tumor-associated dendritic cells (DCs) are emerging as crucial participants in the response to cancer immunotherapy. Following immunotherapy or chemotherapy, DCs perform two key functions: presentation to T cells of antigens released by dying tumor cells; and coordination of the local inflammatory response. Mice lacking immunogenic DCs are unable to respond to a range of different immunotherapies. Unfortunately, DCs can be driven by both activating and inhibitory signals in their local environment; and they can create either robust immune activation, or profound immunosuppression and tolerance, depending on these signals. The availability of single-cell techniques for studying tumor-infiltrating DCs is greatly increasing our understanding of the complexity of DCs in human tumors, but the picture is largely one of dysfunction and immunosuppression. Some potential therapeutic targets are beginning to emerge, with the potential to restore DC function in tumors. However, DCs still remain a powerful but under-studied population.

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