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Combining conventional therapy with immunotherapy: A risky business?
A Coosemans1, A Vankerckhoven2, T Baert3
1Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Leuven Cancer Institute, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|April 10, 2019
Summary
Combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy lacks preclinical data, potentially leading to devastating patient outcomes. Careful immune monitoring and evidence are crucial before clinical application.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Immunotherapy is increasingly combined with other treatments due to single-agent failures in various cancers.
- Chemotherapy is the most common combination partner for immunotherapy in clinical trials.
- Limited preclinical data exists for the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the critical need for preclinical data and immune monitoring in combined cancer therapies.
- To emphasize the potential risks of combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy without adequate research.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on immunotherapy and chemotherapy combinations.
- Analysis of the complex interactions between cancer cells, immune effector cells, and immunosuppressive cells.
Main Results:
- Significant lack of preclinical evidence supporting chemotherapy-immunotherapy combinations.
- Some studies indicate poor efficacy when combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy.
- Complex interplay between cancer cells and immune cells necessitates thorough investigation.
Conclusions:
- Launching combined therapies without robust preclinical data and immune monitoring poses significant risks.
- Further research is essential to understand the intricate effects of combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy on the tumor microenvironment.
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