Tumour immunotherapy: new tools, new treatment modalities and new T-cell antigens.
Tumour immunology has seen many exciting developments in the last few years. In addition to tumour antigens that are defined by antitumour T- and B-cell responses in patients, the human telomerase reverse transcriptase has been identified by 'reverse immunology' as the first truly universal tumour antigen. Molecular remission has been associated with a cancer vaccine that targets the clonal idiotype of B-cell malignancies, and sophisticated cellular vaccines (including fusions of tumour cells and antigen-presenting cells) have demonstrated promising results. Moreover, our capabilities of measuring immunity have been significantly enhanced by novel technology, such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide tetramers and ELISPOT analysis. We are now capable of tracking antigen-specific T cells at a single cell level. This review will analyse recent developments and highlight some important issues that need to be addressed in the future.
Schultze
J L
JL
Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, D540C, Boston, MA 02115, USA. schultze@mbcrr.harvard.edu
Maecker
B
B
von Bergwelt-Baildon
M S
MS
Anderson
K S
KS
Vonderheide
R H
RH
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D019098:Telomerase