title: Gene-based immunotherapy of skin cancers.
abstract: Skin cancers continue to present a major therapeutic challenge to physicians. Recent advances in molecular genetics and improved understanding of immune responses to tumors have generated an interest in using gene-based immunotherapy for treating these malignancies. Two major forms of gene-based immunotherapy are currently being investigated. One focuses on genetic modification of some target cell populations of the host using immunostimulatory genes such as cytokines, in order to improve tumor immunogenicity and antitumor responses; the other is genetic immunization with the genes coding for melanoma-associated antigens recognized by cytotoxic T cells. This paper reviews these novel strategies and summarizes the most recent data recorded in either experimental studies or clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Klinische Kooperationseinheit für Dermatoonkologie (DKFZ) an der Universitats-Hautklinik Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Yuansheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA