1. Cancer and Immune Response: Old and New Evidence for Future Challenges.
- Author
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DE LA CRUZ-MERINO, LUIS, GRANDE-PULIDO, ENRIQUE, ALBERO-TAMARIT, ANA, and DE VILLENA, MANUEL EDUARDO CODES-MANUEL
- Subjects
CANCER ,IMMUNE response ,IMMUNE system ,T cells ,ANTHRACYCLINES ,DRUG therapy ,TUMORS - Abstract
Cancer may occur as a result of abnormal host immune system tolerance. Recent studies have confirmed the occurrence of spontaneous and induced antitumor immune responses expressed as the presence of tumor-infiltrating T cells in the tumor microenvironment in some cancer models. This finding has been recognized as a good prognostic factor in several types of tumors. Some chemotherapy agents, such as anthracyclines and gemcitabine, are effective boosters of the immune response through tumor-specific antigen overexpression after apoptotic tumor cell destruction. Other strategies, such as GM-CSF or interleukin-2, are pursued to increase immune cell availability in the tumor vicinity, and thus improve both antigen presentation and T-cell activation and proliferation. In addition, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 -- blocking monoclonal antibodies enhance immune activity by prolonging T-cell activation. Strategies to stimulate the dormant immune system against tumors are varied and warrant further investigation of their applications to cancer therapy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
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