biostudies-literatureKavunja HWNational Cancer Institute (US)NCI NIH HHS451-460https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5470645biostudies-literatureUnknown66(4)Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) can have remarkable abilities to kill tumor cells. However, the establishment of successful CTL-based anticancer therapy has met with many challenges. Within tumor cells, there exist subpopulations with low or no expression of the targeted antigen (termed as antigen-loss variants). In addition, tumor cells can downregulate the levels of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules on cell surface due to immune pressure. As a result, some tumor cells can escape the immune pressure bestowed by CTLs, resulting in treatment failure. To address these difficulties, a new approach is developed to deliver foreign high-affinity CTL epitopes to tumor tissues utilizing pH-responsive "smart" microparticles (MPs). These MPs could encapsulate CTL peptide epitopCancer immunology, immunotherapy : CIIDelivery of foreign cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes to tumor tissues for effective antitumor immunotherapy against pre-established solid tumors in mice.PMC5470645R01CA149451R01 CA149451Kavunja HWHuang XLang SSungsuwan SYin ZfalseDelivery of foreign cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes to tumor tissues for effective antitumor immunotherapy against pre-established solid tumors in mice.Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) can have remarkable abilities to kill tumor cells. However, the establishment of successful CTL-based anticancer therapy has met with many challenges. Within tumor cells, there exist subpopulations with low or no expression of the targeted antigen (termed as antigen-loss variants). In addition, tumor cells can downregulate the levels of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules on cell surface due to immune pressure. As a result, some tumor cells can escape the immune pressure bestowed by CTLs, resulting in treatment failure. To address these difficulties, a new approach is developed to deliver foreign high-affinity CTL epitopes to tumor tissues utilizing pH-responsive "smart" microparticles (MPs). These MPs could encapsulate CTL peptide epitop2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Apr2025-04-19T17:33:47.24Z2025-04-19T17:33:47.24ZS-EPMC54706452801199510.1007/s00262-016-1948-9