Targeting Toll-like receptor 3 in dendritic cells for cancer immunotherapy
Misako Matsumoto, Yohei Takeda, Tsukasa Seya
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: T cells (CTLs). Signaling from pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) in DCs is required to induce tumor-specific CTLs. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes the properties of PRRs expressed by antigen-presenting DCs, especially TLR3, and provides the recent knowledge of their function in anti-tumor immunity. We also summarize the characteristics of newly-developed TLR3-specific agonist, ARNAX, which efficiently primes DCs to induce anti-tumor immunity without systemic inflammation in mice. EXPERT OPINION: In cancer immunotherapy, the induction of tumor-specific CTLs is significant for tumor regression and to augment the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Non-inflammatory TLR3 adjuvant ARNAX that can induce tumor-specific CTLs without inducing inflammation benefits cancer immunotherapy. Development of appropriate protocols for ARNAX vaccine therapy would be useful to overcome the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade resistance.