Role of γδ T Lymphocytes in Cancer Immunosurveillance and Immunotherapy

γδ T cells are innate-like lymphocytes that typically account for 1–5 % of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Several properties of γδ T cells make them attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy, namely, their MHC-unrestricted recognition of tumors, potent cytotoxicity, and abundant production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Moreover, seminal work with mice genetically deficient for γδ T cells has clearly shown they constitute a key, nonredundant component of cancer immunosurveillance in vivo.