PD-L1-Independent Mechanisms Control the Resistance of Melanoma to CD4 T Cell Adoptive Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is becoming the standard of care for melanoma. However, resistance to therapy is a major problem. Previously, we showed that tumor-specific, cytotoxic CD4 T cells from tyrosinase-related protein 1 transgenic mice could overcome secondary resistance to recurring melanoma when anti-programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) checkpoint blockade was combined with either anti-lymphocyte-activated gene 3 (LAG-3) Abs or depletion of tumor-specific regulatory T (T) cells.

A role for pre-mNK cells in tumor progression.

The innate and adaptive immune systems have evolved together to fight infection and cancerous tissues. The innate immune system emerges first with the adaptive immune system following, both ostensibly being bridged by dendritic cells (DC). Recently cells have emerged that possess characteristics of both innate and adaptive immune cell qualities, termed interferon-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDCs).