[Immunotherapeutic principles in the treatment of tumors]

Numerous clinical and experimental immunological studies have shown that the activity of the immune system plays a decisive role in the course of tumor-macro-organism interaction. The aim of the present paper was to characterize the basic principles which should be taken into consideration in the complex strategy of cancer management. The best therapeutic effect can be achieved when the immune system is changed from the state of tumor-protective activity into tumor-destructive activity. This can be achieved by the combined effect of three synergistic procedures: (1) elimination of the suppressive influence of tumor cells on the immune system; (2) elimination of the suppressive activity of the immune system; (3) stimulation of anti-tumor effector cell populations of the immune system. (Ref. 53.)