Targeting costimulatory molecules to improve antitumor immunity

J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012:2012:926321. doi: 10.1155/2012/926321. Epub 2012 Feb 12.

Abstract

The full activation of T cells necessitates the concomitant activation of two signals, the engagement of T-cell receptor by peptide/major histocompatibility complex II and an additional signal delivered by costimulatory molecules. The best characterized costimulatory molecules belong to B7/CD28 and TNF/TNFR families and play crucial roles in the modulation of immune response and improvement of antitumor immunity. Unfortunately, tumors often generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment, where T-cell response is attenuated by the lack of costimulatory molecules on the surface of cancer cells. Thus, targeting costimulatory pathways represent an attractive therapeutic strategy to enhance the antitumor immunity in several human cancers. Here, latest therapeutic approaches targeting costimulatory molecules will be described.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B7 Antigens / immunology*
  • CD28 Antigens / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • B7 Antigens
  • CD28 Antigens
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha