[New immunologic methods in cancer therapy]

Biotherapeutic methods are on the way to become the 4th column of cancer therapy in addition to operation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The main effector mechanisms of the immune system are represented by T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, lymphokine activated killer cells, macrophages, granulocytes and B lymphocytes. The immunotherapy of malignant tumors consists of the unspecific immunomodulation with biological response modifiers, with cytokines, with monoclonal antibodies, and with lymphokine activated killer cells. Die active specific immunotherapy on the other hand is using the principle of specific immunization of the patients with autologous tumor antigens. Essential for the progress of immunotherapy are intelligent ideas and before all exact therapeutic studies for critical evaluation of the treatment for detection of the best way to solve the problem.