Lentiviruses in cancer immunotherapy. (November 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Breckpot, Karine; Thielemans, K
• Is Part Of: Future virology. Volume 2:Number 6(2007)
• Page Start: 597
• Page End: 606
• Publication Date: 2007-11
• Subjects: antigen-presenting cell -- cancer -- cytotoxic T cell -- dendritic cell -- immunotherapy -- lentivirus; Virology -- Periodicals; Virus diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.9101
• DOI: 10.2217/17460794.2.6.597
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-0794

Abstract

Lentiviral vectors have emerged as promising tools for cancer immunotherapy owing to their capacity to transduce a wide range of different cell types, including dendritic cells (DCs), the key regulators of immunity. Ex vivo transduced DCs proved to be potent inducers of strong antigen-specific T-cell responses, both in vitro and in vivo . Moreover, lentiviral vectors have been successfully applied for antigen-specific immunization, offering the advantage that the same lentivirus can be used for all patients resulting in an ''off-the-shelf'' therapeutic. This review provides an update on the state-of-the-art induction of tumor-specific immune responses in vivo upon direct administration of tumor-associated antigen-encoding lentiviruses. Focusing on the cell types transduced, the results of current studies and the explanation for the potency of lentiviral vectors are discussed.