title: Current immunotherapeutic strategies in colon cancer.
abstract: Because chemotherapy is standard in the treatment of colorectal cancer, it is important to demonstrate whether immunizations may be given to patients receiving systemic chemotherapy. Although some studies have demonstrated immune responses in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who failed standard chemotherapy, the setting of minimal residual disease may be the preferred setting for cancer vaccines. It may be important to choose antigens that have functions important to the cancer cell. The best adjuvant is not well established and may depend on the type of immune response desired. The immune system is "programmed" to down-regulate immune responses once they have become activated to avoid the development of autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, 401 MSRB, Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA. michael.morse@duke.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Starodub
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hobeika
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clay
authors.forename: H Kim
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lyerly
mesh_terms: D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines