Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in advanced melanoma patients: Indirect impact on prognosis through inhibition of tumor-specific T-cell responses?

Oncoimmunology. 2014 Jan 1;3(1):e27845. doi: 10.4161/onci.27845. Epub 2014 Feb 14.

Abstract

The percentage of circulating CD14+CD11b+HLA-DR-/low myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) inversely correlates with survival among advanced melanoma patients. High levels of MDSCs are associated with the absence of T lymphocytes specific for melanoma-derived antigens, implying a causal and clinically relevant interaction between these cell subsets. MDSCs might therefore represent prognostic markers as well as targets for the development of novel therapeutic interventions against melanoma.

Keywords: MDSCs; Melan-A; NY-ESO-1; antigen-specific T cells; melanoma; prognostic marker.