Immunotherapy for lung cancer.
Immunotherapy is a conceptually attractive approach, because it is highly specific and can deal with disseminated disease with minimal impact on normal tissues. Ability to induce antigen-specific immune responses in patients with lung cancer is now well established in early-phase clinical trials using a variety of immunotherapeutic approaches. Although no immunotherapy is likely to be a panacea, randomized phase IIB studies offer promise of therapeutic activity in both early- and late-stage lung cancer. This review will cover basic concepts of immunotherapy, provide perspective on vaccine development, and update the status of ongoing clinical trials in lung cancer.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY, USA. eahirs2@uky.edu
Edward A
EA
Hirschowitz
John R
JR
Yannelli
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
D019496:Cancer Vaccines