The development of immunotherapy targeting immune suppressive molecules and cells

Immunotherapy for cancers is expected to become an additional choice for cancer treatment. The therapy, however, does not necessarily provide successful results because of its anti-tumor effect prevention by immune suppressive cells, including regulatory T cells. Therefore, we first have to examine the molecular mechanisms by which cancer cells escape from immune surveillance, and identify molecules that clearly distinguish regulatory T cells from effector T cells. These molecules would be expected to be applicable for regulatory T cell-depletion in cancer patients, leading to the enhancement of anti-tumor activity.