regulatory t cells in colorectal cancer from biology to prognostic relevance从生物学调节性t细胞在结直肠癌预后的相关性.pdfVIP

Cancers 2011, 3, 1708-1731; doi:10.3390/cancers3021708 OPEN ACCESS cancers ISSN 2072-6694 /journal/cancers Review Regulatory T Cells in Colorectal Cancer: From Biology to Prognostic Relevance Dimitrios Mougiakakos Department of Oncology and Pathology, Immune and Gene Therapy Unit, Cancer Centre Karolinska, CCK R8:01, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden; E-Mail: dimitrios.mougiakakos@ki.se Received: 4 February 2010; in revised form: 13 March 2011 / Accepted: 21 March 2011 / Published: 29 March 20 11 Abstract: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) were initially described as suppressive lymphocytes in the 1980s. However, it took almost 20 years until the concept of Treg-mediated immune control in its present form was finally established. Tregs are obligatory for self-tolerance and defects within their population lead to severe autoimmune disorders. On the other hand Tregs may promote tolerance for tumor antigens and even hamper efforts to overcome it. Intratumoral and systemic accumulation of Tregs has been observed in various types of cancer and is often linked to worse disease course and outcome. Increase of circulating Tregs, as well as their presence in mesenteric lymph nodes and tumor tissue of patients with colorectal cancer de facto suggests a strong involvement of Tregs in the antitumor control. This review will focus on the Treg biology in view of colorectal cancer, means of Treg accumulation and the