Cancer immunotherapy in clinical practice -- the past, present, and future.

Author: Gaurav GOEL ¹ ; Weijing SUN
Author Information

1. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. sunw@upmc.edu.
Publication Type:Journal Article
MeSH: Antibodies; therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents; Cancer Vaccines; therapeutic use; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Humans; Immunotherapy; methods; Neoplasms; therapy
From:Chinese Journal of Cancer 2014;33(9):445-457
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: Considerable progress has been made in the field of cancer immunotherapy in recent years. This has been made possible in large part by the identification of new immune-based cellular targets and the development of novel approaches aimed at stimulating the immune system. The role played by the immunosuppressive microenvironment in the development of tumors has been established. The success of checkpoint-inhibiting antibodies and cancer vaccines has marked the beginning of a new era in cancer treatment. This review highlights the clinically relevant principles of cancer immunology and various immunotherapeutic approaches that have either already entered mainstream oncologic practice or are currently in the process of being evaluated in clinical trials. Furthermore, the current barriers to the development of effective immunotherapies and the potential strategies of overcoming them are also discussed.