Memory T cell

Memory T cells are antigen-specific T cells that remain long-term after an infection has been eliminated. The memory T cells are quickly converted into large numbers of effector T cells upon re-exposure to the specific invading antigen, thus providing a rapid response to past infection.

Memory T cell (MTC) transfer in tumor-challenged T cell-deficient nu/nu mice demonstrates the longevity and functionality of these cells. Graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) studies in mice demonstrate complete remission of late-stage disease including metastases and cachexia. T-cell transfer therapy studies with human cells in human tumor xenotransplanted NOD/SCID mice demonstrate the superiority of bone marrow-derived as compared to blood-derived MTCs. Results from clinical studies presented include vaccination studies using two different types of Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus-modified cancer vaccine and a pilot adoptive T-cell mediated therapy study using re-activated bone marrow-derived cancer-reactive MTCs. As an example of what can be expected from clinical immunotherapy against tumors with an immunosuppressive TME, results from vaccination studies are presented from the aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma. The last decades of basic research in virology, oncology, and immunology can be considered a success story. Based on discoveries in these research areas, translational research and clinical studies have changed the way of treatment of cancer by introducing and including immunotherapy ¹⁾.