Cell-mediated anti-tumour immunity and implications for immunotherapy

Recent discoveries in molecular and cellular immunology on the presentation of antigens and the activation of lymphocytes have opened the way to the development of new treatment strategies involving vaccination or cell-based treatment for patients suffering from cancers. Most of these treatments rely on identifying the antigens associated with tumours and the development of a cell-mediated immune response that involves specific anti-tumour T lymphocytes. However, tumour cells in cancer patients develop many escape systems associated with a lack of effectors involved in the control of cancer cells. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms underlying these changes in order to develop appropriated immune-based treatments.