Purpose: Taxanes comprise some of the most widely used cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Members of this drug family, including docetaxel, are commonly used to treat breast, prostate, and lung cancers, among others. This study was designed to determine if this taxane has the ability to modulate components of the immune system independent of antitumor activity and to investigate the potential synergistic activities of the combination of docetaxel and vaccine therapy.

Experimental Design: We examined the in vivo effects of docetaxel on immune-cell subsets and on the function of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and regulatory T-cell (Treg) populations in response to antigen-specific vaccination. We also examined the antitumor effects of the combination of docetaxel and vaccine in a preclinical model in which docetaxel has no observable effect on tumor growth.

Results: These studies show for the first time that (a) docetaxel modulates CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD19⁺, natural killer cell, and Treg populations in non–tumor-bearing mice; (b) unlike cyclophosphamide, docetaxel does not inhibit the function of Tregs; (c) docetaxel enhances CD8⁺ but not CD4⁺ response to CD3 cross-linking; (d) docetaxel given after vaccination provides optimal enhancement of immune response to recombinant viral vaccines; (e) docetaxel combined with recombinant viral vaccine is superior to either agent alone at reducing tumor burden; and (f) docetaxel plus vaccine increases antigen-specific T-cell responses to antigen in the vaccine, as well as to cascade antigens derived from the tumor.

Conclusions: These findings suggest potential clinical benefit for the combined use of docetaxel and recombinant cancer vaccines.