The TNFRs OX40, 4-1BB, and CD40 as targets for cancer immunotherapy.

The TNFRs OX40, 4-1BB, and CD40 as targets for cancer immunotherapy. Curr Opin Immunol. 2013 Feb 13; Authors: Moran AE, Kovacsovics-Bankowski M, Weinberg AD Abstract T cell-mediated rejection of tumors requires signals from the T cell receptor and co-stimulatory molecules to license effector functions of tumor-antigen specific T cells. There is also an array of immune suppressive mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment that can suppress anti-tumor immunity. The use of monoclonal antibodies to overcome this suppression and/or enhance tumor-antigen specific T cell responses has shown promise in clinical trials. In particular, targeting co-stimulatory members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family with agonist Abs enhances T cell function, which has led to encouraging therapeutic results in cancer-bearing hosts. These encouraging data establish TNFRs as important targets for enhancing tumor-specific immune responses in mice and man. This review will focus on agonists that target the TNFRs OX40, 4-1BB, and CD40. PMID: 23414607 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Opinion in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Immunol Source Type: research