Effect of the tumor on monocyte-derived dendritic cells

The immune system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, ensuring tolerance to self and immunogenicity to non-self. In this context, neoplastic cells begin to express tumor antigens that are targeted for recognition and elimination. However, escape mechanisms can cause cells to coexist with host tissue and immune system cells, maintaining a balance, or to evade the developing immune response. For a specific and efficient immune response to be mounted, antigen presentation is a crucial step. Thus, dendritic cells (DCs), considered the main antigen-presenting cells, play a relevant role in the development of an effective immune response, and are therefore target cells for tumor evasion mechanisms and, on the other hand, for the search for new antitumor immunotherapeutic strategies.