Immune Response to Cancer and Its Regulation in Regional Lymph Nodes

Regional draining lymph nodes (LNs) play a pivotal role in initiating immune responses. However, the presence of metastases may compromise their normal immunological function. Preclinical studies indicate that despite metastases, early tumor-draining LNs are still a rich source of sensitized T cells. Recently, we found that dendritic (DC)-tumor fusion hybrids were capable of stimulating therapeutic T-cell generation in the LN. However, this response is regulated by a tumor-specific suppression mechanism(s). Reversal of these dysfunctions would help the success of immunotherapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011;103:550-554. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.