Peptide Vaccine Therapy in Colorectal Cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths and the second most prevalent (after breast cancer) in the western world. High metastatic relapse rates and severe side effects associated with the adjuvant treatment have urged oncologists and clinicians to find a novel, less toxic therapeutic strategy. Considering the limited success of the past clinical trials involving peptide vaccine therapy to treat colorectal cancer, it is necessary to revise our knowledge of the immune system and its potential use in tackling cancer. This review presents the efforts of the scientific community in the development of peptide vaccine therapy for colorectal cancer. We review recent clinical trials and the strategies for immunologic monitoring of responses to peptide vaccine therapy. We also discuss the mechanisms underlying the therapy and potential molecular targets in colon cancer.
Research Department of General Surgery, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL Medical School, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. o.bartnik@ucl.ac.uk.
Aleksandra
A
Bartnik
Research Department of General Surgery, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL Medical School, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. ajit.nirmal.10@alumni.ucl.ac.uk.
Ajit Johnson
AJ
Nirmal
Research Department of General Surgery, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL Medical School, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. shiyu.yang@ucl.ac.uk.
Shi-Yu
SY
Yang
CEA and MUC-1; EphA2; SART3; colorectal cancer; peptide vaccine therapy; survivin