Mechanisms of action of dendritic cell vaccines for the treatment of cancer

Dendritic cells are specialized antigen-presenting cells that play a dual role in induction of both innate and adaptive immunity as well as T cell tolerance. Dendritic cell based vaccines for the treatment of cancer have shown promise in clinical trials but have yet to demonstrate consistent immunologic potency or clinical efficacy. To address these issues, our group is focusing on strategies to target and activate dendritic cells, in vivo, in tumor bearing hosts. Experiments in animal models suggest that these strategies can overcome tumor-induced immunosuppression, and generate potent T cell mediated antitumor immunity that results in regression of established tumors.

Section editors:Terry Delovitch – The John P. Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, CanadaDavid Scott – University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA