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Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 12/2009

01-12-2009 | Symposium in Writing

Immunosenescence and cancer vaccines

Author: Mauro Provinciali

Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | Issue 12/2009

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Abstract

Experimental and clinical data demonstrate that ageing is associated with the gradual deterioration of the immune system, generally referred to as immunosenescence. Age-related immune dysfunction may have an impact not only on the incidence of cancer, but also on the preventive and therapeutic approaches, which are based on immune system activation. Over the last few years the use of immunological measures to prevent cancer in experimental mouse models involving preimmunisation with new vaccines against even a poor or apparently non-immunogenic tumour has yielded worse outcomes in older age than in young adults. Different mechanisms, which may be due to age-related numerical or functional dysfunction of immune cells and/or to tumour microenvironmental changes, could be responsible for this defect. This review summarises the impact of immunosenescence on the effectiveness of cancer vaccines, knowledge of cancer immunisation in old age and the potential mechanisms implicated in the poorer effectiveness of anticancer immune-based approaches in advanced age. Several approaches to, and possibilities of correcting the low effectiveness of immunisation procedures in old age are described.
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Metadata
Title
Immunosenescence and cancer vaccines
Author
Mauro Provinciali
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy / Issue 12/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-7004
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0851
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-009-0665-z

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