CD40 and melanoma: For instance, in the absence of PAMPs, after ingesting apoptotic melanoma cells, BMDCs undergo a series of changes, including increased expression of co-stimulatory molecules (MHC- II, CD40, CD86), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), and the chemokine receptor CCR7, which promote DC maturation and effectively activate specific T cell responses against melanoma (203).