Immunologic function of dendritic cells in esophageal cancer

Dig Dis Sci. 2008 Jul;53(7):1739-46. doi: 10.1007/s10620-007-0095-8. Epub 2007 Dec 13.

Abstract

Esophageal cancer is one of the frequently occurring malignant cancers. The current therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination, is only to palliate the symptoms; overall the prognosis is poor. The immunotherapy of dendritic cells for esophageal cancer is a valuable method. Dendritic cells existing in the esophageal tissues play an important role in the host's immunosurveillance against cancer as the professional antigen-presenting cells. This review concerns the immunology of dendritic cells in esophageal cancer; it describes the expression of DCs in the normal esophageal tissues and benign disease of esophagus, relations between the DCs and cancer development in esophageal cancer, and the DC-based approach to establish treatment for esophageal cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Esophagus / cytology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm