New Rules For T-Cells Versus Tumours

Rolf M. Zinkernagel of the University of Zürich, Switzerland, and colleagues have come up with some new rules of T-cell induction and maintenance that "not only change previous views but also rationales for anti-tumour immunotherapy". Controversially, they suggest that tumour-specific induction of protective cytotoxic T cells depends on sufficient tumours cells reaching secondary lymphatic organs early enough, and for long enough.

"Overall, we can conclude that tumours that reach the stage of being clinically detectable are likely to have done so in one of two ways. Either they have generated tolerance in the immune system or they have developed ways of resisting immune recognition," writes Drew Pardoll of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, in an accompanying News and Views article. "In terms of cancer treatment, we need ways of breaking tolerance or of activating mechanisms that will circumvent resistance mechanisms."

CONTACT:

Rolf M Zinkernagel
tel +41 1 255 29 89
e-mail rolf.zinkernagel@pty.usz.ch

Drew Pardoll
tel +1 410 955 7866
e-mail dmpardol@jhmi.edu

(C) Nature press release.

Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza