肿瘤疫苗的研究现状

肿瘤在体内的排斥/控制主要依赖于肿瘤抗原特异性T淋巴细胞.T淋巴细胞通过TCR与肿瘤细胞表面表达的HLA-抗原肽复合物的相互作用来识别其靶分子.与特异性HLA-抗原肽复合物有价值的相互作用诱导了淋巴细胞克隆的扩增以及一系列的免疫反应.目前,从理论上已经提出了以整个肿瘤细胞,或纯化的肿瘤抗原作为疫苗(包括整个蛋白质分子和抗原肽及纯化的DNA分子)来提高免疫系统对肿瘤的识别和排斥.本文从免疫系统对肿瘤细胞的识别、疫苗诱导的体内抗肿瘤免疫的假设机制、疫苗接种所诱导的抗肿瘤反应以及临床结果几个方面,对当前肿瘤疫苗的研究现状作一简要综述,并对肿瘤疫苗研究中尚待解决的问题作了简单的归纳.

Current status of tumor vaccines

Tumor rejection/control in vivo may depend mainly on tumor antigen specific T lymphocytes. They recognize their target through the specific interaction of their TCR (T cell receptor ) with the HLA peptide complex expressed on the tumor cell surface. A productive interaction with the specific HLA peptide complex induces a clone expansion of the competent lymphocytes and a cascade of immunological events. Currently, theory has already suggested the use of whole tumor cells or purified tumor antigens as vaccines (including whole proteins, antigen peptides and purified DNA moleculars) to improve tumor recognition and rejection of immune system. This review includes current status of tumor vaccines on the aspects of tumor cell recognition by the immune system, hypothetical mechanisms for in vivo induction of an anti tumor immunity by a vaccine, induction of ananti tumor response by vaccination and clinical results. It is also a summary of the open questions on the field of tumor vaccines study.