Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Murine Model of CD40-activation of B cells
12:24

Murine Model of CD40-activation of B cells

Published on: March 5, 2010

The therapeutic potential of 4-1BB (CD137) in cancer

Kyung-Ok Nam1, Woo Jin Kang, Byoung S Kwon

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|August 17, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Modulating co-stimulatory molecule 4-1BB (CD137) enhances anti-tumor immune responses. This review explores 4-1BB

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cancer Therapy
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Immune cell modulation is crucial for effective cancer therapy.
  • Co-stimulatory molecules, like 4-1BB (CD137), are key targets for enhancing anti-tumor immunity.
  • 4-1BB is expressed on activated T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells (DCs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of 4-1BB in cancer immunotherapy.
  • To focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying 4-1BB's anti-tumor effects.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on 4-1BB in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms of 4-1BB signaling.
  • Examination of in vivo and in vitro data on 4-1BB mediated anti-tumor activity.

Main Results:

  • Cross-linking 4-1BB provides potent co-stimulatory signals to lymphocytes.
  • 4-1BB signaling modulates various cellular responses, leading to enhanced anti-tumor activity.
  • Evidence supports 4-1BB's role in stimulating tumor-destructive immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • 4-1BB is a promising target for developing novel cancer immunotherapies.
  • Understanding 4-1BB's mechanisms can optimize its clinical application.
  • Targeting 4-1BB offers a strategy to harness cell-mediated immunity against cancer.

More Related Videos

Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens09:53

Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens

Published on: February 6, 2017

Generation of Human CD40-activated B cells13:27

Generation of Human CD40-activated B cells

Published on: October 16, 2009

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...