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Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, the ability of cancer cells to evade destruction remains a significant obstacle to the development of effective anticancer treatment. In recent years a subset of immune cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), has been shown to play a key role in evasion of the patient's immune system by tumor cells. A number of different tumor types are associated with increased numbers of circulating MDSCs in cancer patients, suppressing the immune response and permitting continued tumor cell proliferation. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells have recently been defined as a unique subset of immune cells that are able to act as a link between the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. iNKT cells have the ability to carry out immune surveillance of tumor cells and control proliferation of malignant cells. Recently, we presented evidence that iNKT cells are able to interact with and decrease the numbers of circulating MDSCs in melanoma patients. This review discusses the evidence for MDSCs in tumor progression and the implication that iNKT cells could be developed as a potent therapeutic strategy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1097/CJI.0b013e31825be926

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Immunother

Publication Date

07/2012

Volume

35

Pages

449 - 459

Keywords

Animals, Antigens, CD, Cell Proliferation, Disease Progression, Galactosylceramides, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor, Humans, Immunotherapy, Lymphocyte Activation, Mice, Myeloid Cells, Natural Killer T-Cells, Neoplasms, Tumor Escape