Immunotherapy for melanoma.
The immunogenicity of melanoma and the identification of melanoma-associated antigens is the basis for immunotherapy. This review will discuss the current status of melanoma immunotherapy with a focus on non-specific cytokines and highly specific vaccines, including peptides, viruses, dendritic cells, and whole cell vaccines. The passive transfer of melanoma-specific monoclonal antibodies and T-cells will also be reviewed. The problem of tumor escape and the association of immunotherapy to autoimmunity will be discussed. The use of immunotherapy in combination with other therapeutic agents and genetic profiling to predict responses suggests that immunotherapy will continue to play a role in the treatment of melanoma.
Komenaka
Ian
I
Section of Surgical Oncology and Department of Pathology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
Hoerig
Heidi
H
Kaufman
Howard L
HL
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines