Dr William Coley and tumour regression: a place in history or in the future.
Spontaneous tumour regression has followed bacterial, fungal, viral, and protozoal infections. This phenomenon inspired the development of numerous rudimentary cancer immunotherapies, with a history spanning thousands of years. Coley took advantage of this natural phenomenon, developing a killed bacterial vaccine for cancer in the late 1800s. He observed that inducing a fever was crucial for tumour regression. Unfortunately, at the present time little credence is given to the febrile response in fighting infections-no less cancer. Rapidly growing tumours contain large numbers of leucocytes. These cells play a part in both defence and repair; however, reparative functions can also support tumour growth. Intratumoural infections may reactivate defensive functions, causing tumour regression. Can it be a coincidence that this method of immunotherapy has been "rediscovered" repeatedly throughout the centuries? Clearly, Coley's approach to cancer treatment has a place in the past, present, and future. It offers a rare opportunity for the development of a broadly applicable, relatively inexpensive, yet effective treatment for cancer. Even in cases beyond the reach of conventional therapy, there is hope.
Hoption Cann
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Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. stephen.hoption.cann@ubc.ca
van Netten
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JP
van Netten
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D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000266:history* / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000266:history*; D005334:Fever / Q000266:history / Q000276:immunology; D005544:Forecasting; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000266:history* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
D019496:Cancer Vaccines