Main description:

It covers all aspects of DC generation, function, survival and antitumor activity in the tumor environment both in vivo and in experimental in vitro systems. The goal in focusing on a spectrum of issues related to DC in cancer is to provide an extensive and expansive review rather than a collection of independent analyses from different authors.

Specific topics to be covered include analysis of DC behavior in the tumor microenvironment, including endogenous and exogenous DC, multiple DC populations, molecular pathways responsible for DC dysfunction, tumor-derived factors altering DC polarization and activation, mechanisms of DC alterations, and the role of DC in tumor escape from immune recognition and elimination. Furthermore, additional chapters provide extensive analysis of the consequences of cancer therapy on the DC system and how aging impacts DC function in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, chapters are included examining strengths and pitfalls of current methodologies for generating DC from cancer patients for therapeutic purposes and on the role of tumor-mediated modulation of the DC system in cancer immunotherapy.

Contents:

PREFACE 1 Introduction: The Dendritic Cell System 2 Alterations of the Dendritic Cell System in Cancer 2.1 Introduction to the mechanisms of DC abnormalities in cancer 2.2 Elimination of functional DC in cancer by inhibiting dendropoiesis, accelerating DC fate and induction of DC apoptosis 2.3 Inhibition of DC function in cancer 2.4 Polarization of DC subsets (DC1/DC2/DCreg) in the tumor environment 2.5 Avoidance as a mechanism of DC-mediated tumor escape 3 Mechanisms of Dendritic Cell Dysfunction in Cancer 3.1 Introduction to the mechanisms of DC dysfunction in cancer 3.2 Factors and substances responsible for DC modulation in cancer 3.2.1 Tumor-derived factors responsible for DC malfunction Tumor stromal immunomodulators with DC targeting activities Tumor exosomes as DC modulators 3.3 Signaling pathways mediating DC dysfunction in cancer 3.3.1 Overview of intracellular signaling in DC in the tumor environment 3.3.2 A role for STAT3 in DC regulation by tumor-derived factors Other (PKC, PKA, small Rho GTPases) Tumor-associated inflammation and DC modulation Cancer therapy and DC immunomodulation Cancer, aging and the DC system 4 Role of the Dendritic Cell System in Tumor Escape 4.1 Introduction to the role of DC in Tumor Escape 4.2 Regulatory DC: Friends or Enemies? 4.3 Role of IDO in DC development and function in cancer 4.4 Angiogenic DC and their role in tumor regulation 4.5 DC Maturation versus Polarization in tumor escape: Where do we stand? 4.6 DC/DC interaction and development of antitumor immunity 5 Role of tumor-mediated modulation of the DC system in cancer immunotherapy 6 How to generate DC from cancer patients for therapeutic purposes? 7 Future direction in DC research in cancer Concluding Remarks