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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
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In Vivo Immunogenicity Screening of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles by Flow Cytometry of Splenic T Cells
Published on: September 23, 2021
Immunogenic cancer cell death: a key-lock paradigm
Antoine Tesniere1, Lionel Apetoh, Francois Ghiringhelli
1INSERM, U848, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
Current Opinion in Immunology
|June 25, 2008
Summary
Cancer therapies can trigger immunogenic cell death, activating immune responses crucial for treatment efficacy. This process involves specific molecular signals from dying cancer cells that engage dendritic cells (DCs) to initiate anti-tumor immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Physiological cell death is non-immunogenic, preventing autoimmunity.
- Cancer cell death induced by certain therapies (radiotherapy, anthracyclines) is immunogenic.
- Immune responses to cancer cell death are vital for effective anti-cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the concept and molecular mechanisms of immunogenic cell death (ICD).
- To highlight the role of ICD in initiating anti-tumor immune responses.
- To identify key molecular players and temporal sequences in ICD.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent data and concepts on immunogenic cell death.
- Discussion of cell surface changes and soluble signal release during ICD.
- Focus on the interaction between dying cancer cells and dendritic cells (DCs).
Main Results:
- ICD involves cell surface exposure of chaperones (e.g., calreticulin, heat shock proteins) for antigen uptake and DC maturation.
- Late release of High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is essential for antigen presentation via toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4).
- This process forms a 'key' (ICD signals) and 'lock' (DC receptors) mechanism for initiating anti-tumor immunity.
Conclusions:
- Immunogenic cell death is a critical mechanism for effective cancer immunotherapy.
- Specific molecular events, including early chaperone exposure and late HMGB1 release, define ICD.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular details of ICD and innate immune responses.
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