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IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MALIGNANT DISEASE
Author(s) -
Johnson F. L.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb50568.x
Subject(s) - neuroblastoma , malignant disease , disease , antigen , immunology , immune system , immunity , antibody , biology , medicine , pathology , cancer , genetics , cell culture
Clinical observation and animal tumour experiments suggest a close interrelationship between immunity and malignant disease. The demonstration that malignant tumours appear to possess unique and specific antigens which evoke an immunologically based reaction by the host has been the principal stimulus to the field of tumour immunology. One tumour of particular interest is the human neuroblastoma, which undergoes spontaneous regression more frequently than any other, malignant tumour. By tracing developments in the field of tumour immunology in general and then studying specific experimental animal tumour models closely related to neuroblastoma, the present approach to experiments in human neuroblastoma and other forms of human malignant disease is more easily understood. Initial findings from studies of human malignant tumours have indicated that the concept of immunological enhancement and blocking antibodies is important in the immunological reactions of these tumours. Therapy based on findings from experiments with malignant tumours in animals and man has now become a reality, but will achieve more practical application only when host immune reactions have been more precisely defined.