C T L A-4 T-Cell Regulatory Molecule

This digital confocal image shows the antigen-dependent accumulation of a T-cell regulatory molecule, C T L A-4, at the immunological syapse that is forming between a T cell (upper left) and the tumor cell that it recognizes (lower right). C T L A-4 is an inhibitory molecule that can terminate or limit T-cell responses.

Many studies have shown the blockade of C T L A-4 can actually enhance anti-tumor responses. This novel approach to tumor immunotherapy is currently in Phase I clinical trials in prostate cancer and in melanoma. This is part of the research in the laboratory of James Allison in Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Cancer Research Laboratory.

Photo submitted by James Allison