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.