An increase in suppressive dendritic cells and T cells is a hallmark of healthy aging, a phenomenon exacerbated by cancer and modulated by chemo‐ and immunotherapy
This thesis showed that specialised immune cells, dendritic cells and T cells, that play a key role in protecting us from cancer become increasingly dysfunctional (suppressive) during aging, which is exacerbated by cancer. Moreover, anti-cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy promote even more suppre...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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Curtin University
2016
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/51694 |
| Summary: | This thesis showed that specialised immune cells, dendritic cells and T cells, that play a key role in protecting us from cancer become increasingly dysfunctional (suppressive) during aging, which is exacerbated by cancer. Moreover, anti-cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy promote even more suppressive dendritic cells and T cells, which may explain reduced treatment efficacy in the elderly. The data suggest that combining chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy with strategies to alleviate immunosuppression may improve elderly cancer patient outcomes. |
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