title: Experimental induction of tumor growth control by immune adjuvants: current status and some theories to be explored.
abstract: Immune adjuvants have been shown to induce tumor growth control in many experimental tumor-host models. The beneficial effect depends on tumor size and type and dose of the adjuvants in question, but few experimental data elucidate, which immunological mechanisms--if any--that are directly involved in the tumor destructive processes induced by immuno-adjuvants. The importance of non-specific tumor immunity is discussed with emphasize on the importance of immuno-competent cells that react non-specifically, and that may include "self-directed" cells. Non-immunological mechanisms are proposed also to be of importance, underlining the possible role of the phenomenon of spontaneous reversion of malignant cells to a non-malignant state. It is finally stressed that both immunologic and non-immunologic properties of immunoadjuvant induced tumor growth control must be analysed before therapy with immunoadjuvants can be optimally applicated in the cancer patient.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic