title: Natural ligands and antibody-based fusion proteins: harnessing the immune system against cancer.
abstract: The insight that the immune system is able to eradicate tumor cells inspired the development of targeted immunotherapies. These novel approaches aim to trigger immune molecules and receptors, including CD3 on T cells and NKG2D and NKp30 on natural killer (NK) cells, to harness the immune system against cancer. In cancer patients, overcoming immune suppression induced by malignant cells or by the tumor microenvironment remains the major challenge to the clinical efficacy of immunotherapies. Recombinant constructs have been developed in various formats either utilizing natural ligands (immunoligands) or antibody-derived components (immunoconstructs) to circumvent mechanisms that counteract an effective antitumor immune response.
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Clinic 1 for Internal Medicine, 50924 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Maulik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.affiliation: Hannover Medical School, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koehl
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Clinic 1 for Internal Medicine, 50924 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallek
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Clinic 1 for Internal Medicine, 50924 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: elke.pogge@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Elke Pogge
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: von Strandmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism; D055636:Receptors, Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008024:Ligands; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D055636:Receptors, Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
keywords: NK cells; T cells; cancer; immunoconstructs; immunoligands; recombinant proteins