Nature's TRAIL - On a path to cancer immunotherapy

Mark J. Smyth*, Kazuyoshi Takeda, Yoshihiro Hayakawa, Jacques J. Peschon, Marcel R.M. Van Den Brink, Hideo Yagita

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

297 Scopus citations

Abstract

The TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) offers great promise as a cancer therapeutic. Initially, soluble recombinant versions of the TRAIL molecule have exhibited specific tumoricidal activity against a variety of tumors alone, or in combination with other cancer treatments, and much anticipation awaits the outcomes from early clinical trials. More recently, the natural role of TRAIL has been explored in tumor and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation models in the mouse. Strikingly, the TRAIL effector pathway appears a vital component of immunosurveillance of spontaneous or resident tumor cells by both T cells and NK cells, stimulating more hope that manipulating TRAIL activity is a natural path to improved cancer immunotherapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalImmunity
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003/01/01

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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