Dendritic cells: the central partner for cancer immunity.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are central players in the immune system, serving as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Their unique abilities to capture, process, migrate, and present tumor-associated antigens to T cells make them essential actors in initiating and regulating anti-tumor immune responses. This review provides an overview of the phenotypic heterogeneity and functional diversity of DC in cancer immunity, with an emphasis on their interactions with other immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, highlighting their collaborative efforts in driving effective antitumor immunity. Additionally, we examined the impact of tumor-derived signals and immunosuppressive mechanisms on DC functions and their implications for DC-based cancer immunotherapy.