BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Awakening tumor immunity

March 28, 2013 7:00 AM UTC

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have determined why many cancer vaccines fail to elicit a robust T cell response-the cells hover near the vaccination site instead of migrating to the tumor.1 The surprisingly simple solution is switching the vaccine formulation to a different carrier.

Vaccination with peptide antigens typically elicits both antibody- and cell-based immune responses that are mediated by B cells and T cells, respectively. A robust response by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells is especially important in fighting tumors...