MHC class II-restricted tumor antigens recognized by CD4+ T cells: new strategies for cancer vaccine design.

The adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can mediate tumor regression in patients with melanoma. This finding has led to the identification and characterization of tumor-associated antigens recognized by CD8+ TIL. Several clinical trials based on the genes recognized by these CD8+ T cells have been attempted, but with only limited success. Meanwhile, increasing evidence has demonstrated that CD4+ T cells play important roles in generating and maintaining antitumor immune responses in animal models. These data suggest that it may be necessary to engage both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells for more effective antitumor immunotherapy. In this report, we review emerging molecular approaches in cloning major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II restricted tumor antigens recognized by CD4+ T cells as well as approaches to identify new MHC class II-restricted epitopes from known tumor antigens recognized by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and/or antibodies. Progress made in this field has shed light on the roles of tumor antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in humans; it has also provided new insights into the understanding of tumor genesis and the interaction between tumor and the immune system. More importantly, the discovery of MHC class II-restricted tumor antigens has provided opportunities for developing a new generation of cancer vaccines aimed at eliciting both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses against tumor.