Although tumor antigen-specific immunotherapy, such as dendritic cell vaccine, has recently emerged as a promising clinical approach, one limitation of tumor antigenand T-cell receptor (TcR)specific immunotherapy is antigenspecific inhibition by antigen-specific regulatory T-cell and myeloid suppressor cells. Therefore, immunotherapy using a TcR-independent mechanism may be an alternative immun...

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells, which display an extraordinary capacity to induce T-cell responses. Recent findings revealed that DCs also play a crucial role in the activation of natural killer (NK) cells representing important effectors in the innate immune defense against viruses and tumors. Here, we summarize various studies investigating the bidirectional c...

To resist viral infections, leukocytes perform effector functions, such as direct killing of infected cells (elicited by natural killer cells and T lymphocytes) and production of virusneutralizing antibodies (elicited by B lymphocytes). These effector functions require differentiation of the leukocyte and are preceded by activation of the Band T-cell receptors and by production of cytokines fro...

Dengue research is in turmoil following confusing efficacy reports from large-scale phase III clinical studies on the lead candidate tetravalent dengue vaccine (1–3). Within the context of the current understanding of immunity in dengue or immunity to other vaccines, the observed failures of protection cannot be adequately explained. These results comprise the background to this review of conte...

The intercellular transfer of plasma membrane patches, also known as trogocytosis, has a strong impact on the function and fate of immune cells. We have recently shown that natural killer (NK) cells undergo fratricide following the trogocytosis-mediated acquisition of tumor-derived NKG2D ligands. Malignant cells may therefore employ trogocytosis to escape NKG2D-mediated immune responses.

Here we argue in support of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) supergene as a tumor suppressor. HLA is recurring mutational target large and diverse group malignancies. The suppressor function linked to an embryonic/stemness drug resistance phenotype. A deeper understanding distinct roles HLA, including immunosurveillance, stemness, functions, could illuminate limited responses cancer patients. ...

Metastatic prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. It is the first prevalent cancer in which overall survival in advanced disease is modestly, but objectively, improved with outpatient delivered dendritic cell–based immunotherapy. More prostate cancer patients have enrolled through Facebook and trusted-site Internet searches in clinical trials for ...