Immune suppression in tumors as a surmountable obstacle to clinical efficacy of cancer vaccines

Gregoire Wiëers, Nathalie Demotte, Danièle Godelaine, Pierre van der Bruggen

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Human tumors are usually not spontaneously eliminated by the immune system and therapeutic vaccination of cancer patients with defined antigens is followed by tumor regressions only in a small minority of the patients. The poor vaccination effectiveness could be explained by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Because T cells that infiltrate tumor metastases have an impaired ability to lyse target cells or to secrete cytokine, many researchers are trying to decipher the underlying immunosuppressive mechanisms. We will review these here, in particular those considered as potential therapeutic targets. A special attention will be given to galectins, a family of carbohydrate binding proteins. These lectins have often been implicated in inflammation and cancer and may be useful targets for the development of new anti-cancer therapies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2904-2954
Number of pages51
JournalCancers
Volume3
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anergy
  • Cancer vaccines
  • Galectin
  • Immunosuppression
  • Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

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