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Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
12:42

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo

Published on: January 7, 2019

T-regulatory cells in tumour-specific vaccination strategies

Marij J P Welters1, Sytse J Piersma, Sjoerd H van der Burg

  • 1Department of Immunohematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy
|August 13, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) hinder cancer immunotherapy effectiveness. Strategies to counteract Tregs are crucial for improving vaccine-induced T-cell responses and achieving better clinical outcomes in cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Cancer immunotherapy, particularly vaccine-induced T-cell-mediated approaches, often yields limited clinical responses.
  • Therapeutic failures are attributed to tumor-induced regulatory networks, cancer cell properties, suboptimal vaccine design, and immune system subversion.
  • Regulatory T cells (Tregs) significantly impede anti-cancer immunity by blocking effector T cell induction, infiltration, and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the detrimental impact of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in cancer immunotherapy.
  • To identify and discuss potential therapeutic strategies for overcoming Treg-mediated suppression in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of existing literature on regulatory T cells in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Focus on the mechanisms by which Tregs inhibit vaccine-induced T-cell responses.
  • Exploration of therapeutic interventions to counteract Treg activity.

Main Results:

  • Vaccine-induced immunity is often insufficient due to Treg activity in both lymph nodes and the tumor microenvironment.
  • Tregs can prevent effector T cells from being generated, infiltrating tumors, and performing their cytotoxic functions.
  • Therapeutic vaccines themselves may inadvertently promote or enhance Treg populations.

Conclusions:

  • The balance between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effector T cells is a critical determinant of vaccine efficacy.
  • Modulating Treg activity is essential for improving the clinical outcomes of cancer immunotherapy.

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