[Immunotherapy of malignant diseases--developments and prospects]

Conventional strategies in cancer management, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy are effective treatments for most tumors, but often fail in achieving complete remission. The reason for this failure is, that single tumor cells have already spread to various organs by the time the tumor is diagnosed and lead, often years later, to the development of metastases. Therefore it is insufficient to treat the tumor solely at its point of origin; tumor dissemination should be prevented too. Tumor immunotherapy is one of the treatment options that target tumor propagation. In cancer immunotherapy, the immune system of the patient is influenced such, that the tumor is recognized and attacked by the body's defences. Since these therapies specifically aim at tumor cells, they cause fewer adverse events and improve the quality of life of patients. This review outlines previous developments in cancer immunotherapies with a focus on active immunotherapies and vaccination strategies.