cancer and phagocytosis

Priming an Effective T cell Response to Cancer

Posted on by Kari Kenefick

Cancer vaccines have been in progress for some time now. But a vaccine that is highly effective against cancer is not currently available.

However, an interesting report from Stanford University School of Medicine researchers, Dr. Irving Weissman, et al. shows some promise in a development of an altered means of stimulating the immune system, that could result in a stronger immune response and ultimately a better cancer vaccine. The paper by Weissman et al. was published electronically ahead of print in PNAS USA, May 20, 2013: “Anti-CD47 antibody-mediated phagocytosis of cancer by macrophages primes an effective antitumor T-cell response.”

Schematic of a macrophage engulfing, digesting and presenting parts of a pathogen or foreign cell to the cell surface.
Schematic of a macrophage engulfing, digesting and presenting parts of a pathogen or foreign cell to the cell surface.

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