Dendritic cells: specialized antigen presenting cells.

Renewing interest in cancer immunotherapy reflects the excellent results that have been obtained in animal models and the promising results in early clinical trails with dendritic cell (DC) based approaches. The central role that DCs play in the initiation of an immune response raises the possibility of using them to trigger specific anti-tumor immunity. In addition, deeper knowledge of DC biology will allow better understanding of the mechanism(s) underlying allergic and autoimmune diseases as well as tolerance phenomena. These crucial issues were critically reviewed during a workshop organized by the Italian Society for Experimental Hematology in Florence, Italy, on March 18th, 1999. The chairmen have prepared this report for the readers of Haematologica.