Vaccines and Their Role in CD8 T Cell-Mediated Antitumor Immunity

Cancer vaccines, in order to be successful, must generate tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cells that can effectively traffic to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and maintain their activity in the immunosuppressive TME. T cell avidity and priming are critical components of an effective vaccine response, but the immunosuppressive environment of the tumor may still inhibit optimal T cell function. The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to existing cancer vaccines has been associated with an effective T cell response that translates into prolonged survival. This article will examine the components necessary to induce a potent and effective CD8⁺ T cell response using combination vaccine immunotherapies.