Application of iNKT Cell-targeted Active Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 38; no. 7; pp. 4233 - 4239
• Main Authors: Yamashita, Kimihiro, Arimoto, Akira, Nishi, Masayasu, Tanaka, Tomoko, Fujita, Mitsugu, Fukuoka, Eiji, Sugita, Yutaka, Nakagawa, Akio, Hasegawa, Hiroshi, Suzuki, Satoshi, Kakeji, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece International Institute of Anticancer Research 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Activation; Adaptive systems; Animals; Anticancer properties; Antigens; Antitumor activity; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemokines; Chemotherapy; Cytokines; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity; Immunization; Immunogenicity; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy, Active - methods; Natural killer cells; Natural Killer T-Cells - immunology; Neoplasms - therapy; Surgery; iNKT cells; review; α-galactosylceramide; immunogenic cell death
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530
• DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.12719

In tumor immunity, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play a pivotal role as a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems. With a precisely regulated activation mechanism, iNKT cells have the ability to respond quickly to antigenic stimulation and rapidly produce cytokines and chemokines, and subsequently an effective antitumor immune response. The development of iNKT cell-targeted active immunotherapy enables, not only an antitumor immune response through innate and acquired immunity, but also the conversion of an immunosuppressive into an immunogenic microenvironment. This review is focused on the activation mechanism and the role of iNKT cells after therapeutic active immunization. The therapeutic strategy targeting iNKT cells is expected to be applied to clinical practice in combination with surgery and chemotherapy.