Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial components of the immune system, playing an essential role in regulating immune responses, including those against tumors. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), DCs act as both tumor suppressors and facilitators of tumor progression, depending on their activation state and interaction with other immune cells. This duality reflects their complex role in either promoting antitumor immunity or contributing to immune evasion. DCs initiate immune responses by presenting antigens to T cells, but in tumors, they often become tolerogenic, supporting tumor survival. Strategies to modulate DC function within the TME have emerged as promising avenues for cancer immunotherapy. This review explores the role of DCs in the TME, their mechanisms of immune modulation, and how therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring DC function may improve the efficacy of immunotherapies.