The role and therapeutic implications of T cells in cancer of the lung.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The disease is classified into two major subtypes, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and the more prevalent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). First-line conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, have offered limited benefit, and patient prognosis remains poor with post-treatment recurrences representing a major cause of morbidity.

Restoration of defective cross-presentation in tumors by gemcitabine.

Tumor antigen cross-presentation by dendritic cells (DCs) to specific CD8 T cells is central to antitumor immunity. Although highly efficient in draining lymph nodes, it is defective within the tumor site itself. Importantly, an immunogenic chemotherapy, gemcitabine, reverses this defect, allowing the potential re-stimulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes within tumor sites.