Dendritic Cells in Cancer

It covers all aspects of DC generation, function, survival and antitumor activity in the tumor environment both in vivo and in experimental in vitro systems. The goal in focusing on a spectrum of issues related to DC in cancer is to provide an extensive and expansive review rather than a collection of independent analyses from different authors.

Specific topics to be covered include analysis of DC behavior in the tumor microenvironment, including endogenous and exogenous DC, multiple DC populations, molecular pathways responsible for DC dysfunction, tumor-derived factors altering DC polarization and activation, mechanisms of DC alterations, and the role of DC in tumor escape from immune recognition and elimination. Furthermore, additional chapters provide extensive analysis of the consequences of cancer therapy on the DC system and how aging impacts DC function in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, chapters are included examining strengths and pitfalls of current methodologies for generating DC from cancer patients for therapeutic purposes and on the role of tumor-mediated modulation of the DC system in cancer immunotherapy.

Significant features of cancer are suppression and redirection of the immune response, which allow for tumor development and growth in the previously immune competent host. Central to development of immune responses are dendritic cells, and unsurprisingly these cells are strongly impacted by tumors and factors derived from them, as well as by other conditions associated with tumor progression or cancer treatments. Further, as some of the frontline strategies for treatment of cancer involve immunotherapy with ex vivo cultured or in vivo modulated dendritic cells, it becomes imperative to understand how dendritic cells interact with and are affected by the tumor microenvironment. "Dendritic Cells in Cancer," edited by Michael R. Shurin and Russell D. Salter, presents thorough analyses of the complex biology of the tumor-dendritic cell relationship, and offers insights into how cancer treatments may benefit from furthering our understanding in this area.