title: Antigenic targets for renal cell carcinoma immunotherapy.
abstract: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been shown to respond to immunotherapeutic intervention, thus fostering continued interest in exploiting the ability of the immune system to recognise and eradicate renal malignancy. Considerable progress in the characterisation of tumour-associated antigens, coupled with the appreciation that dendritic cells act as master regulators of immunity and tolerance, has opened new possibilities for immunotherapeutic intervention against human cancer. However, in contrast to other tumour systems, clinically relevant antigens expressed by RCC have not yet been identified. Therefore, most RCC vaccine trials have employed unfractionated antigens derived from tumour cells, with the goal of eliciting T cell responses against many unknown antigens expressed by the tumour. The recent discovery of genes with critical roles in oncogenesis has facilitated the identification of novel, more universal targets that may make cancer vaccines more practical, applicable and, potentially, more effective. In addition, immunisation against tumour antigens can be combined with tumour stroma-associated targets, thereby exerting a synergistic antitumour effect. Continued identification of molecular targets, in concert with more effective vaccination protocols, is likely to produce vaccination strategies with clinical impact.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, MSRB, Suite 455, PO Box 2626, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. j.vieweg@duke.edu
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vieweg
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019139:Tumor Escape; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor