“Ruggero Ceppellini” Advanced School of Immunology

Abstract

Tumor escape is an issue of fundamental importance in tumor immunology because it poses the puzzling question of why tumors, in spite of the fact that they can be antigenic, escape the immune reaction of their immunocompetent hosts, and avoid rejection. This issue was the focus of the “Ruggero Ceppellini” Advanced School of Immunology in 2008, funded in part with EFIS-EJI monies, and held in Sorrento, Italy from 16–19 October 2008. The aim of the course, entitled “Tumor Escape 2008”, was to give the attendees an overview of the most recent opinions on the subject of tumor immune escape, focusing mainly on the aspects concerning molecular and cellular recognition of the transformed cell. The course director Dr. Soldano Ferrone's lecture set the stage for discussions on immunoediting, presenting evidence for loss of immune recognition of tumors that modulate their expression of HLA molecules as a consequence of induced defects in the tumor cells' antigen-processing machinery. This concept was further developed by Dr. Barbara Seliger, the co-director of the course, whose lecture explored the detailed molecular mechanisms that are involved in the deregulation of tumor HLA expression. Dr. Edgardo Carosella reported that HLA-G, a non classical MHC class I molecule, might be involved in tumor immune escape since it is found on tumors in an advanced stage of their growth; Dr Carosella also proposed strategies for blocking the role of HLA-G in tumor formation. The cellular aspects of tumor escape, the central dilemma of tumor immunology, were also considered in the course; the role played by regulatory T cells and their subsets was extensively covered by the lectures of Dr. Theresa Whiteside and Dr. Federica Cavallo, while the involvement of myeloid-derived suppressor cells was emphasized by Dr. Vincenzo Bronte, who suggested how the manipulation of these cellular mechanisms might, on the one hand, be beneficial for tumor rejection and, on the other, help control the excessive activation of the immune system in autoimmune diseases. The role of NK cells in tumor escape was covered by Dr. Ennio Carbone, and the engineering of the T cells by retroviral gene transfers was explained by Dr. Hinrich Abken. Last, but far from least, the course was characterized by the contraposition of the affirmative immunoediting view of tumor immunology, mentioned above, with a basically opposite point of view, the contra hypothesis, sustained and reinforced by the lectures of Dr. Thomas Blankenstein. These opposing views stimulated a lively and fruitful discussion that involved speakers and participants far beyond the time limits of the event. To conclude, we believe that this course was successful and fully reached its goals in terms of the importance of the messages expertly delivered by the speakers and the interest stimulated amongst both speakers and attendees. Furthermore, all this was achieved in a friendly and collaborative manner thanks to the ability of the speakers and chairs to involve the audience in vivid discussions. Finally, the venue chosen for the event, Sorrento, aided the success of the conference by being particularly propitious and satisfying for tranquillity, beauty and style. We hope that the next Ceppellini Advanced School of Immunology (see feature box for details) is as successful as that in 2008.