Dendritic cell dysfunction and implications for dendritic cell-based therapy in colorectal cancer

Clinical trials and experimental models indicate that dendritic-cell-based immunotherapy is promising for treatment of different types of cancer. However, dendritic cells (DCs) have strong immune-regulatory capacities and can not only stimulate but also dampen immune responses. It is also well known that the different DC subsets strongly influence the magnitude and quality of adaptive immune responses. In this review, to improve understanding of the DC-based immunotherapy approach, we briefly describe different DC subsets and the differentiation, maturation, and activation of these cells. One form of cancer for which there is a strong need to find, establish, and standardize new, alternative therapies is colorectal cancer. This review discusses some of the factors, including those involved in DC dysfunction, that we believe to be of major influence in DC therapy in colorectal cancer.