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The cellular immunotherapy of cancer: current and potential uses of interleukin-2

P M Sondel1, J A Hank, P C Kohler

  • 1Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.

Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
|January 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Cellular immunotherapy harnesses the immune system to combat cancer, utilizing animal models to inform clinical trials. Research explores activating endogenous immune cells or providing exogenous antitumor cells to treat neoplasms.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology and Oncology
  • Cellular immunotherapy research

Background:

  • The concept of immune-mediated tumor destruction has existed for a century.
  • Cell-mediated immune reactions are well-characterized in various immunity studies.
  • Animal models demonstrate immune cell destruction of neoplastic tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review experimental studies in animals that led to clinical trials for cancer immunotherapy.
  • To present recent data from ongoing clinical trials on cellular immunotherapy.
  • To outline challenges in the development and application of cellular immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of diverse experimental studies in animal tumor models.
  • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo immune cell-mediated destruction of tumors.
  • Examination of two main approaches: immunostimulatory agents and exogenously activated immune cells.

Main Results:

  • Successful regimens for cancer immunotherapy have been delineated in animal models.
  • Experimental studies provide a foundation for clinical trials in cancer patients.
  • Ongoing clinical trials are directly testing the potential of cellular immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular immunotherapy shows promise for cancer treatment, supported by extensive animal research.
  • Clinical trials are underway to evaluate its efficacy.
  • Significant challenges remain in advancing this therapeutic approach.

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