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Vaccines in oncology: background and clinical potential

CRC Department of Medical Oncology, University of Manchester & Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK

View larger version (15K): [in a new window]   Figure 1. Tumour cells present antigens to T-cells as peptide fragments on the surface of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. (A) In the absence of co-stimulatory signals, tolerance may result. (B) Tumour antigens are also taken up by antigen presenting cells (APCs), which can present peptide fragments to both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. CD4+ T-cells secrete cytokines, which further amplify the CD8+ T-cell response. Activated CD8+ cells become cytotoxic and are then able to lyse tumour cells.

View larger version (17K): [in a new window]   Figure 2. Methods of loading dendritic cells (DCs) with tumour antigens. (A) DCs loaded with class I restricted peptides are only able to prime CD8+ T-cells. Lack of antigen-specific T-cell help may result in a suboptimal immune response. (B) DCs loaded with whole antigens are able to prime both CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells. (C) DCs can also be transduced with genes encoding tumour antigens, allowing the activation of both CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells. Tumour antigen expression within the DCs provides the cells with a renewable source of antigen.