Experimental melanoma vaccines.
There are several immunological implications for the feasibility of melanoma vaccines. Vaccines such as melanoma cell and cell-lysate preparations, chemically characterized and pure melanoma associated antigens (MAA), anti-idiotypic antibodies mimicking MAA, and vectors encoding the genes of MAA have been tested in early and advanced clinical trials. Some of these experimental vaccines have increased overall survival rate and increased disease-free interval rate in patients with melanoma. Some of these vaccines are currently being tested in randomized, controlled, phase III trials to confirm clinical efficacy, and it is possible that they will be used later in the standard care for melanoma.
Sivanandham
Muthukumaran
M
Department of Surgery, Saint Vincent's Hospital & Medical Center of New York/New York, Medical College, 153 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA. msivanandham@compuserve.com
Kim
Eugene M
EM
Wallack
Marc K
MK