Targeting regulatory T cells in cancer

WL Byrne, KHG Mills, JA Lederer, GC O'Sullivan - Cancer research, 2011 - AACR
WL Byrne, KHG Mills, JA Lederer, GC O'Sullivan
Cancer research, 2011AACR
Infiltration of tumors by regulatory T cells confers growth and metastatic advantages by
inhibiting antitumor immunity and by production of receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK)
ligand, which may directly stimulate metastatic propagation of RANK-expressing cancer
cells. Modulation of regulatory T cells can enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
Strategies include depletion, interference with function, inhibition of tumoral migration, and
exploitation of T-cell plasticity. Problems with these strategies include a lack of specificity …
Abstract
Infiltration of tumors by regulatory T cells confers growth and metastatic advantages by inhibiting antitumor immunity and by production of receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) ligand, which may directly stimulate metastatic propagation of RANK-expressing cancer cells. Modulation of regulatory T cells can enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Strategies include depletion, interference with function, inhibition of tumoral migration, and exploitation of T-cell plasticity. Problems with these strategies include a lack of specificity, resulting in depletion of antitumor effector T cells or global interruption of regulatory T cells, which may predispose to autoimmune diseases. Emerging technologies, such as RNA interference and tetramer-based targeting, may have the potential to improve selectivity and efficacy. Cancer Res; 71(22); 6915–20. ©2011 AACR.
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