Adoptive T-cell transfer combined with a single low dose of total body irradiation eradicates breast tumors

The major objectives of tumor vaccination are to induce the regression of established tumors and to favor the establishment of long-lasting tumor-specific immunity, capable of protecting the host from relapse. Immunotherapeutic strategies such as the administration of tumor-associated antigenic peptides offer one means to boost preexisting antitumor CD8(+) T cell immunity. Our recent work reveals that established breast tumors are rejected and tumor recurrence prevented when low-dose irradiation is combined with the adoptive transfer of Mammaglobin A epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells.