Abstract
Gamma delta (γδ) Τ cells are non-conventional T lymphocyte effectors that can interact with and eradicate tumour cells. Several data demonstrate that these T cells, which are implicated in the first line of defence against pathogens, have anti-tumour activity against many cancers and suggest that γδ Τ cell-mediated immunotherapy is feasible and might induce objective tumour responses. Due to the importance of γδ Τ lymphocytes in the induction and control of immunity, a complete understanding of their biology is crucial for the development of a potent cancer immunotherapy. This review discusses recent advances in γδ Τ basic research and data from clinical trials on the use of γδ Τ cells in the treatment of different cancers. It analyses how this knowledge might be applied to develop new strategies for the clinical manipulation and the potentiation of γδ Τ lymphocyte activity in cancer immunotherapy.
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
MeSH terms
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Adaptive Immunity
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Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
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Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Cells, Cultured / drug effects
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Cells, Cultured / immunology
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Cells, Cultured / transplantation
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Dendritic Cells / immunology
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Dendritic Cells / transplantation
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Diphosphonates / pharmacology
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Diphosphonates / therapeutic use
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Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
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Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
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Humans
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Immunity, Innate
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Immunologic Surveillance / immunology
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Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
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Mesenchymal Stem Cells / immunology
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Neoplasms / immunology
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Neoplasms / therapy*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / analysis
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / analysis*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / genetics
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / chemistry
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / transplantation*
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / chemistry
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / transplantation*
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
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Translational Research, Biomedical
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Tumor Escape / immunology
Substances
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Antigens, Neoplasm
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Diphosphonates
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta