The role of the immune system in anti-tumour responses. Potential for drug therapy.
In the last 5 years significant progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular nature of anti-tumour T cell-mediated responses. This review describes the involvement of the cellular immune system in the recognition and destruction of cancer cells. Four aspects are discussed: (i) the generalized immune activation induced by the systemic administration of cytokines, in particular, interleukin-2; (ii) the specific T cell-mediated reactions against tumour cells through the recognition of tumour-associated molecules, 1) and tyrosinase proteins described in melanomas, and minor histocompatibility antigens in the setting of allogenic bone marrow transplantation for leukaemia; (iii) the potentially significant but still hypothetical immune-mediated recognition of molecules either tumour-associated or transformation-related (including altered oncogenic proteins); and (iv) the role of co-stimulatory molecules in the induction of tumour-specific immunity. The current and future therapeutic applications in cancer treatment and potential limitations in this approach are discussed.
Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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S
Dermime
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J
Barrett
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C
Gambacorti-Passerini
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents