Abstract
Previous reports have demonstrated in immunogenic murine tumor models that bone marrow (BM)-derived DC pulsed ex vivo with synthetic tumor-associated peptides, naturally expressed by tumor cells, serve as effective antitumor vaccines, protecting animals against an otherwise lethal tumor challenge. However, those strong antitumor effects are not observed in treatment models.
Increased concentration of immunosuppressive factors and the accumulation of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment indicate that immune regulation has an active role in cancer progression. Recent studies have identified signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3) as an important molecule that mediates tumor-induced immunosuppression at many levels.
Consequently, STAT3 has emerged as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2011 ; 26 : 267-273]
