Intratumoral alterations of dendritic-cell differentiation and CD8(+) T-cell anergy are immune escape mechanisms of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Cytotoxic lymphocytes and dendritic cells infiltrating human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are not sufficient to prevent tumor progression. Our studies identified alterations of the immune cell infiltrate as well as some of the underlying mechanisms. This knowledge should facilitate the development of anti-RCC therapies that achieve better tumor control.