Immunological Problems of Diagnostics and Therapy in Hematology and Oncology

Immunology takes reliable place in the system of diagnostics and therapy of oncological and haematological diseases. It should be noted that serodiagnostics of tumors achieved its methodological limit, since all tumor-associated antigens are already known, and the search of new serum immunological markers seems to fail. New markers have attracted attention of investigators: cytoplasmic and surface proteins and glycoproteins, being products of different genes, which control cell viability, such as Pgp170, p53, Bcl-2, CD95 (Fas/APO-1), Her-2/neu and others. All these proteins may be identified by monoclonal antibodies. At present, the identification of these biomarkers by immunohistochemical methods is beginning to use for individualization of therapy. New direction in oncohematology is biotherapy of tumors. Tumor biotherapy means the treatment of oncological patients with vaccines, immunomodulators, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies and so on. Cancer vaccinotherapy took new design due to the achievements in molecular biology and gene engineering. The great success was achieved in the therapy of tumors and leukemias by interferon preparations. Again, the great expectations seem to be in the field of cancer therapy with immunomodulators. Thus, the achievements in the treatment of oncohaematological diseases are as usual related to the achievements in immunology.