Characterizing Changes in T Cell Composition and Function Within Prostate Tumors Following Androgen Ablation and Non-invasive Imaging of Anti-Tumor Immune Responses

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men and accounts for approximately 25% of all new cancer diagnoses. Currently, there is no effective therapy for the androgen independent disease that inevitably arises following androgen ablation therapy. The goal of cancer immunotherapy is to use the cells of the immune system to eradicate tumors. This is an especially attractive option for the treatment of androgen independent prostate cancer because as an immunogenic, non-vital organ, collateral prostate tissue damage is not life threatening. We set out to characterize the prostate infiltrating lymphocytes following androgen ablation as well as at later time points using standard immunohistochemical techniques. This method allowed us to determine not only localization of cells to the organ, but also whether the cells gain access to the tumor epithelium. While IHC is a very useful tool, we recognize the value of having an instantaneous and responsive means of monitoring the dynamic nature of immune responses. Molecular imaging is a method of detecting cells or cellular processes non-invasively within whole, living animals. This methodology has the potential to contribute significantly to the study of immunotherapy in preclinical models as well as in patients. Here we not only characterize the T cell localization and function in PTEN knockout prostate tumors, but also demonstrate the usefulness and feasibility of using molecular imaging as a tool to complement in vitro and ex vivo analysis of anti-tumor immune responses.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Akins, Elizabeth

• tumor immunology

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/14876

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/14876