T-cell immune suppression in patients with hematologic malignancies: clinical implications

Abstract

SUMMARY  The reversion of immune suppression and restoration of T-cell function against leukemia remains a significant clinical challenge. However, the advent of improved antileukemia-specific T-cell induction and the generation of gene-modified T cells has extended cellular immunotherapy to hematological malignancies. Numerous immunotherapeutic protocols have been developed aiming to enhance antileukemia T-cell immune function, eliminate leukemic cells and prevent relapse. By contrast, abnormal expression of CTLA-4 and PD1/PD-L1 plays a critical role in effector T-cell responses and increases Treg suppressive activity in patients with tumors; therefore, blocking CTLA-4, PD1 and PD-L1 is a novel approach for immunotherapy.