title: Combining immunotherapy and targeted therapies in cancer treatment.
abstract: During the past two decades, the paradigm for cancer treatment has evolved from relatively nonspecific cytotoxic agents to selective, mechanism-based therapeutics. Cancer chemotherapies were initially identified through screens for compounds that killed rapidly dividing cells. These drugs remain the backbone of current treatment, but they are limited by a narrow therapeutic index, significant toxicities and frequently acquired resistance. More recently, an improved understanding of cancer pathogenesis has given rise to new treatment options, including targeted agents and cancer immunotherapy. Targeted approaches aim to inhibit molecular pathways that are crucial for tumour growth and maintenance; whereas, immunotherapy endeavours to stimulate a host immune response that effectuates long-lived tumour destruction. Targeted therapies and cytotoxic agents also modulate immune responses, which raises the possibility that these treatment strategies might be effectively combined with immunotherapy to improve clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts                 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanneman
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dranoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000187:drug effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007167:Immunotherapy; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines