Targeting dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo using T cells for cancer vaccination. Upon infusion, T cells efficiently home to lymphoid tissue where they encounter lymph node-resident DCs. T cells may be genetically modified to express tumor-associated antigens as well as molecules that can induce DC activation, such as CD40L, heat shock proteins (HSPs), and flagellin. Interacting DCs engulf and present antigen delivered by T cells on MHC class I and II molecules. T cell-mediated DC maturation results in the upregulation of costimulatory molecules, such as CD80 and CD86, which are necessary for the generation of potent helper CD4+ and effector CD8+ T cell responses.
