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1: Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Oct 1;9(12):4296-303.
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Natural T cell immunity against cancer.

Nagorsen D, Scheibenbogen C, Marincola FM, Letsch A, Keilholz U.

Immunogenetics Section, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

It has long been a matter of debate whether tumors are spontaneously immunogenic in patients. With the availability of sensitive methods, naturally occurring T cells directed against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) can be frequently detected in cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the current data on T cell responses to TAAs in various malignancies, including melanoma, colorectal cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer. T cell responses against various antigens, including melanoma differentiation antigens, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial cell adhesion molecule, her-2/neu, Wilms' tumor protein, proteinase 3, NY-ESO-1, and surviving, have been reported in a substantial number of patients. In contrast, other TAAs, including most antigens of the MAGE family, do not usually elicit spontaneous T cell responses. A distinction between direct ex vivo T cell responses and in vitro-generated T cell responses is provided because in vitro stimulation results in quantitative and functional changes of T cell responses. The possible role of TAA-specific T cells in immunosurveillance and tumor escape and the implications for immunological treatment strategies are discussed. Naturally occurring T cells against TAAs are a common phenomenon in tumor patients. Understanding the mechanisms and behavior of natural TAA-specific T cells could provide crucial information for rational development of more efficient T cell-directed immunotherapy.

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PMID: 14555498 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]