Abstract
Cellular immune responses that protect against tumors typically have been attributed to CD8 T cells. However, CD4 T cells also play a central role. It was shown recently that, in a patient with metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, CD4 T cells specific for a peptide from a mutated region of ERBB2IP could arrest tumor progression. This and other recent findings highlight new opportunities for CD4 T cells in cancer immunotherapy. In this article, I discuss the role and regulation of CD4 T cells in response to tumor Ags. Emphasis is placed on the types of Ags and mechanisms that elicit tumor-protective responses. I discuss the advantages and drawbacks of cancer immunotherapy through personalized genomics. These considerations should help to guide the design of next-generation therapeutic cancer vaccines.
Copyright © 2015 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
MeSH terms
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / immunology
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Animals
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Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
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Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / genetics
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / immunology
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / prevention & control
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Bile Duct Neoplasms / therapy*
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Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / immunology
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Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / pathology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
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Cancer Vaccines / genetics
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Cancer Vaccines / immunology
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Cholangiocarcinoma / genetics
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Cholangiocarcinoma / immunology
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Cholangiocarcinoma / pathology
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Cholangiocarcinoma / prevention & control
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Cholangiocarcinoma / therapy*
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Gene Expression
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Genomics
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Humans
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Immunotherapy*
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Mutation / genetics
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Mutation / immunology
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Neoplasm Metastasis
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Precision Medicine*
Substances
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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Antigens, Neoplasm
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Cancer Vaccines
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ERBIN protein, human