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Clinical implications of the new biology in the development of melanoma vaccines
Author(s) -
Hemmila Mark R.,
Chang Alfred E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(199904)70:4<263::aid-jso14>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , melanoma , immune system , immunotherapy , immunology , immunization , medicine , antigen , clinical trial , biology , cancer research , pathology , paleontology
There has been a resurgence in clinical research of vaccine therapies, particularly for the treatment of melanoma. The renewed interest in this field is attributable to an increased understanding regarding the immune response to tumors and the immunobiology of melanoma. Molecular biology techniques have enabled investigators to develop genetically engineered tumor vaccines that are intended to favor the type 1 immune response over the type 2 response. Melanoma‐associated antigens have been characterized at the molecular level and are currently being investigated in clinical trials. Dendritic cell biology has also provided a potent method to present antigens to the host for immunization. Lastly, vaccines are being explored as a method to generate immune T‐cells for adoptive immunotherapy. These new areas of clinical investigation will be reviewed in the context of the historical developments that have laid the foundations of this field. J. Surg. Oncol. 1999;70:263–274. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.