title: Immunologic approaches to breast cancer treatment.
abstract: The need for less toxic adjuvant therapies and a better understanding of the processes by which the immune system can eradicate micrometastatic disease has generated significant interest in breast cancer immunotherapy. There are many potential approaches to stimulating an immune response against a tumor, each with relative advantages and disadvantages in regards to cost, immunogenicity, and clinical applicability in treating breast cancer. This article will review the mechanisms by which the immune system can recognize and eradicate neoplastic cells and the various methods of stimulating an anti-tumor immune response. Obstacles to the clinical effectiveness of immunotherapies in breast cancer are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, 3304 Cancer Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. msabel@umich.edu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sabel
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nehs
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines