Tumor Infiltrating Regulatory T Cells: Tractable Targets for Immunotherapy

Abstract

Several studies have linked tumor-infiltration by regulatory T cells with poor patient outcome. Targeting the mechanisms by which regulatory T cells traffic to and persist in the tumor may circumvent tumor immune-escape by de-restricting T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In this review, we describe the principle axes that govern regulatory T cell migration and the mechanisms that underpin their immunosuppressive activity in cancer. Inhibiting either the migration or function of regulatory T cells may enhance host-anti-cancer immune responses and as such are attractive and tractable targets for therapeutic intervention.

Keywords :

• regulatory T cell
• tumor
• CTLA-4
• GITR
• CCR4
• CCL22