CD40 Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Overview

Journal Cancer Immunol Immunother

Specialties Allergy & Immunology
Oncology
Pharmacology

Date 2013 Apr 17

PMID 23589109

Citations 66

Authors

Robert H Vonderheide

David L Bajor

Rafael Winograd

Rebecca A Evans

Lauren J Bayne

Gregory L Beatty

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly aggressive and lethal cancer which is poorly responsive to standard therapies. Although the PDA tumor microenvironment is considered especially immunosuppressive, recent data mostly from genetically engineered and other mouse models of the disease suggest that novel immunotherapeutic approaches hold promise. Here, we describe both laboratory and clinical efforts to target the CD40 pathway for immunotherapy in PDA. Findings suggest that CD40 agonists can mediate both T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent immune mechanisms of tumor regression in mice and patients. T-cell-independent mechanisms are associated with macrophage activation and the destruction of PDA tumor stroma, supporting the concept that immune modulation of the tumor microenvironment represents a useful approach in cancer immunotherapy.

Citing Articles

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