Beyond differences observed in the specific pCTL frequency related to age, cancer patients also appeared with a decreased proliferative capacity of virus specific pCTL. Most likely these differences could be explained by replicative senescence [15, 16], selleck inhibitor whereby viral specific CTL in patients have multiplied several times over their lifetime and present with a reduced ability to further respond to an antigenic stimulus. This does not exclude their presence but rather supports the fact that T cell clonal exhaustion results in the accumulation of

oligoclonal dysfunctional cells followed by repertoire shrinkage due to clonal deletion, maintaining however, the actual number of dysfunctional cells [17], as has recently being demonstrated in patients with renal cell cancer [18]. Many investigators relate the immune Crenolanib price dysfunction of cancer patients with both the inefficient anti-tumor response and a reduced efficacy of immunotherapy [19, 20]. To this end, we have recently identified that patients with lung cancer present with a tenfold higher number of anti-tumor CTL as compared to the age-matched controls [13]. These results suggest that such patients do not have an immunocompromised CD8 T cell response

but the ineffective anti-tumor response, is most likely a reflection of the age-associated changes that take place in individuals [21] impacting on their capacity to respond effectively against the tumor. Under the light of the data presented herein, it is worth examining whether young individuals have a buy PF-02341066 more almost robust anti-tumor response, as is the case with the anti-EBV response. Conclusions In conclusion, this study provides evidence

that lung cancer patients dispose an EBV-specific CTL response equivalent to that of age-matched healthy counterparts. Our study suggests that possibly the poor outcome of cancer immunotherapeutic approaches in lung cancer can be a result of the underlying effects of senescence on the immune system rather than an inefficient anti-tumor response. These data warrant the examination of whether young individuals have a more robust anti-tumor response, as is the case with the anti-EBV response. Acknowledgements This work was supported by (a) a European Union – European Social Fund (75%) and the Greek Ministry of Development-GSRT (25%) (ENTER 04EP09) grant and (b) a Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship within the 6th European Community Framework Programme (FP6 Contract MIF1-CT-2006-021795, IRTALUNG) grant. References 1. Kiessling R, Wasserman K, Horiguchi S, Kono K, Sjöberg J, Pisa P, Petersson M: Tumor-induced immune dysfunction. Cancer Immunol Immunother 1999, 48:353–362.PubMedCrossRef 2. Hadden JW: The immunology and immunotherapy of breast cancer: an update. Int J Immunopharmacol 1999, 21:79–101.PubMedCrossRef 3. Brydak LB, Guzy J, Starzyk J, Bachala M, Góźdź SS: Humoral immune response after vaccination against influenza in patients with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer 2001, 9:65–68.