Martin Cannon, PhD
University of Arkansas for Medical Science
Dendritic cell vaccination & inhibition of tumor-associated immune suppression
Recent clinical studies have found that ovarian cancer patients with Th17 lymphocyte infiltrates in tumors enjoy a markedly longer overall survival, suggesting that Th17 cells play a protective role against ovarian cancer. Dr. Cannon designed an innovative approach to dendritic cell vaccination that activates a Th17 T cell response against ovarian cancer, raising the exciting prospect of dendritic cell vaccine clinical trials to stimulate Th17 immunity. However, ovarian tumor associated myeloid cells suppress anti-tumor immunity stimulated by dendritic cells. This project will determine the mechanisms of immune suppression and test drugs that have the potential to alleviate suppression and boost the efficiency of dendritic cell vaccination.