T cell infiltration of the prostate induced by androgen withdrawal in patients with prostate cancer

M Mercader, BK Bodner, MT Moser… - Proceedings of the …, 2001 - National Acad Sciences
M Mercader, BK Bodner, MT Moser, PS Kwon, ESY Park, RG Manecke, TM Ellis, EM Wojcik
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001National Acad Sciences
Manipulations capable of breaking host tolerance to induce tissue-specific T cell-mediated
inflammation are of central importance to tumor immunotherapy and our understanding of
autoimmunity. We demonstrate that androgen ablative therapy induces profuse T cell
infiltration of benign glands and tumors in human prostates. T cell infiltration is readily
apparent after 7–28 days of therapy and is comprised predominantly of a response by CD4+
T cells and comparatively fewer CD8+ T cells. Also, T cells within the treated prostate exhibit …
Manipulations capable of breaking host tolerance to induce tissue-specific T cell-mediated inflammation are of central importance to tumor immunotherapy and our understanding of autoimmunity. We demonstrate that androgen ablative therapy induces profuse T cell infiltration of benign glands and tumors in human prostates. T cell infiltration is readily apparent after 7–28 days of therapy and is comprised predominantly of a response by CD4+ T cells and comparatively fewer CD8+ T cells. Also, T cells within the treated prostate exhibit restricted TCR Vβ gene usage, consistent with a local oligoclonal response. Recruitment/activation of antigen-presenting cells in treated prostate tissues may contribute to local T cell activation. The induction of T cell infiltration in prostate tissues treated with androgen ablation may have implications for the immunotherapeutic treatment of prostate cancer as well as other hormone-sensitive malignancies, including breast carcinoma.
National Acad Sciences