The role of tumor-specific lymphocytes in prevention of cancer development: a foundation for immune cell therapy

Tumor cells have an aberrant protein expression profile compared with normal cells of the body, which potentially results in presentation of distinct antigens. This feature renders them sensitive to recognition by the adaptive immune system. Antigens especially expressed on tumor cells are referred to as tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Lymphocytes specific for a TAA can mediate such a highly exclusive anti-tumor response. The immune system is capable of preventing tumor formation or cancer development through identification and elimination of tumor cells on the basis of their expression of TAAs. B- and T-lymphocytes are capable of recognition of TAAs with the help of highly specific antigen receptors, and if they are particularly specialized for a TAA, they can be considered as TAA-specific lymphocytes. TAA-specific lymphocytes play the essential role in tumor-specific immunity and elimination of aberrant cells from the body. TAA-specific lymphocytes circulate and patrol within blood circulation to eliminate potential tumor cells. However, TAA-specific lymphocytes compose a small fraction of general population of lymphocytes. Evidence shows that TAA-specific lymphocytes are even significantly lower in cancer patients compared with healthy individuals. Hence, tumor cells can escape from the immune system causing a cancerous state and further, re-expand if survive after chemotherapy. Provision of a legion of lymphocytes specific for tumor cell antigens increases the chance to cure the cancer. Isolation and ex vivo expansion of TAA-specific lymphocytes from peripheral blood offer an immune cell therapy approach to eliminate cancers

Keywords:

Cancer , Immune cell therapy , Lymphocytes , Tumor Antigen , Tumor-specific immunity