Beyond Antigen Presentation: The Intrinsic Role of Tumor-Cell CD1d Expression in Cancer

Author:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
CD1d is traditionally recognized as an MHC class I-like antigen-presenting molecule involved in lipid antigen presentation to Natural Killer T (NKT) cells. However, emerging paradigms reveal that its expression on malignant epithelial cells directly influences tumor-intrinsic functions, independent of classical immune surveillance. In this webinar, we will explore the evolving role of tumor-cell CD1d in aggressive cancer. The presentation will discuss how aberrant CD1d expression influences key hallmarks of tumor progression, including proliferation, survival, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We will examine mechanistic insights into how tumor-associated CD1d modulates cell plasticity, stemness-associated pathways, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment beyond its canonical role in antigen presentation. Emphasis will be placed on emerging in vitro and translational findings linking CD1d signaling to metastatic behavior and therapeutic resistance. By mapping these precise in vitro processing dynamics, this webinar bridges the gap between basic tumor immunology and translational drug discovery. Ultimately, we will discuss how uncovering these distinct, non-canonical CD1d pathways on cancer cells shifts our therapeutic focus away from broad immune stimulation and toward targeted interventions. Disrupting this intrinsic tumor-cell axis offers a novel, highly sophisticated therapeutic window to halt metastatic progression and overcome immune evasion in aggressive malignancies.