Cytotoxic T Cells and Cancer Therapy

The cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL, Tc) is a type of T lymphocyte/ white blood cell involved in the host’s cell-mediated immune response against cancerous cells, abnormal cells and cells infected with viruses. Signals from infected cells or cancer cells lead to the release of cytotoxins: perforin, granzymes, and granulysin by the TC cells. The activation of CTLs is mediated by the interaction of various costimulatory molecules as well as immune cells. Pre-eminent role of CTLs in combating cancer can be effectively applied for the active and passive immunotherapeutic approaches. Various recombinant cytokines viz., interleukins (IL)-2, 4, 7, 10, 12, 15; tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have been found to augment the production of CTL. CTLs can also be stimulated in antigen specific manner through tumor antigens which are the molecular derivatives over expressed in tumorcells due to differentiation, point mutations or viral origin. Designing and development of vaccines based on such immunogenic candidates can be executed and in majority of cases such antigens are targets for CTLs. Identification as chemotherapy and CTL-mediated killing. and validation of these CTL-specific antigens require * Corresponding author KEYWORDS