title: Belagenpumatucel-L for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunotherapy has become a promising approach for the treatment of NSCLC. In order to stimulate the host immune system against tumour antigens, several cancer vaccines have been generated and evaluated. Belagenpumatucel-L is a whole tumour cell vaccine expressing the antisense strand of the TGF-β2 gene.
  
  
  METHODS
  The purpose of this article is to review the most relevant findings of clinical trials testing belagenpumatucel-L in advanced NSCLC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the Phase III trial investigating belagenpumatucel-L in stage III/IV patients did not meet its primary end point, a survival benefit was observed in several subgroups of patients. Further studies are needed in order to select patients who may benefit from this vaccine.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS AOU San Martino IST- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, UOS Tumori Polmonari , Largo Rosanna Benzi n° 10, 16132 Genova , Italy +39 0105600665; +39 0105600795; ery80x@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rijavec
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biello
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Genova
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barletta
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dal Bello
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coco
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truini
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vanni
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alama
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beltramini
authors.forename: Maria Attilia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boccardo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grossi
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; C514428:belagenpumatucel L
keywords: Belagenpumatucel-L; NSCLC; TGF-β2; vaccines