Anti-HER2/Neu passive-aggressive immunotherapy

Preclinical studies have established that CD8(+) T cells are necessary for efficient immunotherapeutic regimens targeting v-erb-b2 avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2 (ERBB2, best known as HER2/Neu). Recently, we extended upon these findings by demonstrating that anti-HER2/Neu therapy also requires CD4(+) T cells and CD40/CD40L signaling within the tumor microenvironment. Our results add to mounting evidence demonstrating that adaptive immunity is crucial to the efficacy of conventional and targeted anticancer chemotherapeutics.