The dendritic cell tool for oral cancer treatment

The link between oncology and immunology has a long history, and its development is forced by the necessity to develop innovative and highly efficient modalities for the immunological destruction of malignant cells. The success of cancer immunotherapy depends on two major factors: adequate tumor-specific antigens and a vehicle capable of inducing a tumor-specific immune response by effective delivery of these antigens. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful antigen-presenting cells, because of their unique characteristics, and these cells are actively used in cancer immunotherapy. DCs form a critical interface between innate and adaptive immunity. They integrate signals derived from tissue infection or damage and present processed antigen from these sites to naive T-cells in secondary lymphoid organs while also providing multiple soluble and surface-bound signals that help to guide T-cell differentiation. They are sentinel of immune system, as they are deployed through the body and monitor their surroundings for antigens and danger signals derived from pathogens or tissue damage. These cells (DCs) with their potent antigen-presenting ability are considered as critical factor in antitumor immunity. In recent years, the existence of immunosuppressive regulatory DCs in tumor microenvironment is well described. Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells can contribute to the pool of tumor-associated DCs by differentiating to inflammatory DCs, which appear to have specific phenotype and are critical components of antitumor response. There is currently much interest in modulating DC function to improve cancer immunotherapy. Many strategies have been developed to target DCs in cancer, such as the administration of antigens with immunomodulators that mobilize and activate endogenous DCs and the generation of DC-based vaccines. Here, we highlight the role of DCs along with other DC subsets in the regulation of immune responses in cancer treatment.