Therapy-induced tumor immunosurveillance involves IFN-producing killer dendritic cells.

ABSTRACT

A unique class of IFN-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDC) resembling natural killer cells has been defined that can recognize and lyse tumor cells through a tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-dependent mechanism. IKDC may mediate the host-dependent antitumor activity of Gleevec/STI571 and other therapeutics that can inhibit the c-kit tyrosine kinase. IKDC represent an important new component of the innate immune system responding to cancer.