Role of Dendritic Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy

In the context of antitumor immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in initiating specific T-cell responses and supporting humoral responses to inhibit tumor development. DCs are diverse and can be classified into different subsets such as plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), conventional DCs (cDC1 and cDC2), and monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs). The interaction between these DC subsets and tumors is a dynamic process that is essential for initiating and sustaining antitumor immune responses by cross-priming tumor-specific T cells. The presence of functional DCs within tumors is associated with reduced cancer progression, improved patient survival, and enhanced T-cell responses. However, within the tumor microenvironment (TME), the DC system can exhibit a range of dysfunctional states that negatively impact antitumor immune responses. To address this, DC-based therapy has emerged as a promising approach to restore DC function in the TME, offering potential benefits in tumor therapy. This chapter provides an in-depth exploration of various aspects of DC biology, including the functional roles of different dendritic cell subsets in both promoting and suppressing tumor growth. It also investigates the mechanisms underlying the recruitment of DCs into the TME and discusses the prognostic value and therapeutic potential of functional DCs. Furthermore, the chapter provides a detailed discussion on current immunotherapies in the context of DCs-mediated cancer therapy.