Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
09:29

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies

Published on: September 30, 2016

Implications of current therapeutic approaches in colorectal cancer for other gastrointestinal malignancies

B C Lembersky1

  • 1Division of Medical Oncology, Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, PA 15213.

Seminars in Oncology
|February 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Novel immunotherapies show promise for gastrointestinal cancers. Anti-idiotypic antibodies and radiolabeled antibodies are being investigated for pancreatic, liver, and esophageal cancers, with some positive early results.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Gastrointestinal Cancers

Background:

  • Novel immunotherapeutic strategies are being explored for pancreatic, hepatic, and esophageal cancers, extending beyond colon cancer research.
  • Preliminary trials in pancreatic cancer suggest anti-idiotypic antibodies against tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) may be effective, but MoAbs alone are not.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current landscape and emerging strategies of immunotherapies for pancreatic, hepatic, and esophageal cancers.
  • To highlight promising therapeutic roles and ongoing investigations in treating these gastrointestinal malignancies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preliminary clinical trials and preclinical studies involving various immunotherapeutic agents.
  • Analysis of treatment outcomes for monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), anti-idiotypic antibodies, immunotoxins, radiolabeled MoAbs, and adoptive immunotherapy.
  • Evaluation of combination therapies, including interferon gamma, chemotherapy regimens, and chemoembolization.

Main Results:

  • Anti-idiotypic antibodies show therapeutic potential in pancreatic cancer; combination therapy with interferon gamma or chemotherapy (5-FU/doxorubicin/mitomycin) demonstrated beneficial effects.
  • 131I-labeled antiferritin achieved 7% complete and 41% partial regression in unresectable hepatocellular cancer, with some cases enabling curative resection.
  • Chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma provided palliative and survival benefits; adoptive immunotherapy yielded disappointing results.
  • Combination therapy of 5-FU/interferon alfa-2a showed a 27% objective response rate in locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Immunotherapy, particularly using anti-idiotypic antibodies and radiolabeled agents, presents a promising avenue for treating pancreatic and hepatic cancers.
  • While challenges remain, especially with adoptive immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, ongoing research in esophageal cancer shows encouraging response rates with combination therapies.
  • Further clinical trials are warranted to optimize immunotherapeutic strategies for various gastrointestinal malignancies.

More Related Videos

Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery06:46

Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery

Published on: September 27, 2024

Establishment of a Co-culture System of Patient-Derived Colorectal Tumor Organoids and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs)08:42

Establishment of a Co-culture System of Patient-Derived Colorectal Tumor Organoids and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs)

Published on: June 27, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer 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...
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...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition primarily affecting the colon and rectum. The primary drugs used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis are aminosalicylates. They exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They modulate inflammatory mediators and inhibit the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Aminosalicylates also reduce inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene production and decreasing neutrophil chemotaxis and superoxide generation. 
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management01:29

Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management

Upon diagnosis, managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves addressing several crucial aspects. The primary goals include resting the bowel, correcting malnutrition, and providing symptomatic relief. Resting the bowel may consist of medications to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Correcting malnutrition is essential, often requiring dietary adjustments and nutritional supplements. Symptomatic relief aims to ease pain, diarrhea, and other discomforts in IBD.
Pharmacologic...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management01:21

Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management

Surgical interventions for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are essential in managing symptoms and addressing complications. The selection of surgical procedures is contingent upon the specific conditions and complications that stem from these illnesses.
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD: