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Experimental Melanoma Immunotherapy Model Using Tumor Vaccination with a Hematopoietic Cytokine
Published on: February 24, 2023
Antigens for cancer immunotherapy.
Michelle A Neller1, J Alejandro López, Christopher W Schmidt
1Queensland Institute of Medical Research, PO Box RBH, Brisbane 4029, Australia. Michelle.Neller@qimr.edu.au
Seminars in Immunology
|October 28, 2008
Summary
Despite advances in tumor immunology, effective cancer immunotherapies remain elusive. This review examines protein antigen characteristics and antigen sources for successful cancer immune control and clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Tumor immunology research has yielded limited effective cancer immunotherapies.
- Current research often focuses on defined antigens, yet whole tumor cell vaccines show more promise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review protein characteristics that influence their effectiveness as targets for immune control.
- To evaluate the clinical success of different antigen sources in cancer immunotherapy trials.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy research.
- Analysis of protein antigen properties relevant to immune system recognition.
- Comparative assessment of clinical trial outcomes for various antigen-based vaccines.
Main Results:
- Certain protein characteristics enhance a tumor's susceptibility to immune attack.
- Vaccines using whole tumor cells or extracts have demonstrated greater clinical success than those targeting defined antigens.
- The effectiveness of immunotherapies is linked to the immunogenicity and accessibility of tumor antigens.
Conclusions:
- Understanding protein antigen characteristics is crucial for developing effective cancer immunotherapies.
- Future strategies may benefit from exploring whole tumor antigen sources or identifying novel, highly immunogenic targets.
- Bridging the gap between tumor immunology and clinical success requires a nuanced approach to antigen selection.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor 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.
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
01:26Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
02:49Cancer Therapies
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
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Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
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02:57Targeted 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...
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