Title:Dual Role of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) in Anti-Tumor Immunity
Volume: 12
Issue: 9
Author(s): G. Multhoff, A.G. Pockley, C. Streffer and U.S. Gaipl
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Adaptive immunity, antigen presentation, dendritic cells, immunogenic cell death, innate immunity,
macrophages, NK cells, T cells, cytokines, stress proteins, chemotherapy, lymph nodes, tumors, metastases, phenotype
Abstract: Although surgery and radiotherapy are highly efficient in local tumor control, distal metastases and
tumor recurrence often limit therapeutic outcome. It is becoming progressively more evident that curative tumor
therapy depends on the presence and maintenance of an intact immune system which has the capacity to elicit
cytotoxic effector functions against circulating tumor cells and distant metastases. Heat shock proteins (HSPs,
also termed stress proteins) are involved in antigen processing and presentation and can act as “danger
signals” for the adaptive and innate immune systems. This article reviews current knowledge relating to the
induction and manifestation of stress protein-related immunological responses that are pertinent to the
development and maintenance of protective anti-tumor immunity.
