Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

Immune modulation as a therapeutic strategy for non-small-cell lung cancer

Gregory E Holt1, Mary L Disis

  • 1Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. gregholt@u.washington.edu

Clinical Lung Cancer
|June 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Active tumor immunotherapy offers new hope for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Research shows promising immune responses and clinical benefits, potentially improving survival rates.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Vaccine Development

Background:

  • Current non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapies have shown limited impact on mortality rates over the past two decades.
  • Active tumor immunotherapy presents a potential new avenue for treating NSCLC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of active tumor immunotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • To review the development of NSCLC vaccines, including antigen selection, epitope formulation, and delivery methods.
  • To assess the role of adjuvants like interleukin-12 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in enhancing vaccine potency.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trials investigating NSCLC immunotherapy.
  • Analysis of vaccine design principles, including antigen selection and epitope formulation.
  • Evaluation of adjuvant agents and immunization strategies.

Main Results:

  • Clinical trials in NSCLC immunotherapy have demonstrated the induction of immune responses.
  • Promising clinical responses have been observed when compared to historical controls receiving standard therapy.
  • Immunotherapy may synergize with chemotherapy and radiation, enhancing antitumor immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • Active tumor immunotherapy shows promise for improving treatment outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • The combination of immunotherapy with established treatments like chemotherapy and radiation warrants further investigation.
  • Continued research in active immunotherapy could lead to more effective therapies for NSCLC.

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Various treatment strategies for Crohn's disease are employed, such as immunomodulatory agents, glucocorticoids, and biologics or anti-TNF therapy. Azathioprine (Imuran), a commonly used immunomodulatory drug for Crohn's disease, is converted in the body to mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Both are utilized in severe cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers01:19

Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers

Leukotriene modifiers, or cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists, are medications used to manage chronic asthma. These agents target specific inflammatory mediators produced during arachidonic acid metabolism, an essential process in generating inflammation in the body.
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms: