In cancer patients, there is increasing evidence that even though tumor-specific T cells can be stimulated in the lymph node by tumor antigen-loaded dendritic cells, immune inhibitory mechanisms are activated which dampen anti-tumor immunity.  Systemic administration of antibodies targeting immune-modulating receptors on T cells enhances vaccine-induced tumor immunity, but this response is associated with adverse, sometimes fatal, reactions.  In this study we demonstrate that local modulation of immune receptors at the site of T cell/dendritic cell tumor vaccine interaction synergizes to amplify anti-tumor immunity without eliciting adverse immune responses normally associated with systemic administration of immune-modulators.

 

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