Immune evasion of dormant disseminated tumor cells is due to their scarcity and can be overcome by T cell immunotherapies.

ABSTRACT: The period between "successful" treatment of localized breast cancer and the onset of distant metastasis can last many years, representing an unexploited window to eradicate disseminated disease and prevent metastases. We find that the source of recurrence-disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) -evade endogenous immunity directed against tumor neoantigens. Although DTCs downregulate major histocompatibility complex I, this does not preclude recognition by conventional T cells. Instead, the scarcity of interactions between two relatively rare populations-DTCs and endogenous antigen-specific T cells-underlies DTC persistence. This scarcity is overcome by any one of three immunotherapies that increase the number of tumor-specific T cells: T cell-based vaccination, or adoptive transfer of T cell rece

SUBMITTER: Goddard ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10864018 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature