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34.2 Immunotherapy for tumors

Immunotherapy has a potential role in transformed cells because it is less harmful than other known treatments for cancer (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery). Some of the roles that immunotherapy can play are mentioned below

•  Treatment of patient with cytokines and costimulators may help to increase the immunity against tumor.

•  Tumor antigens can be used as a vaccine for the infected individuals.

•  Tumor immunity can be augmented by blocking the inhibitory pathways.

•  Stimulation of immune response can be done by local administration of polyclonal activators of lymphocytes.

•  Another way of inducing immune response is to transfer antibodies and other immune effectors passively.

•  Adoptive cellular immunotherapy can be approached which involves transfer of cultured immune cells in the host body.

•  In some patients transfer of hematopoietic stem cell transplants combined with alloreactive T cells help in elimination of tumor.

•  Monoclonal antibodies which are tumor specific may prove useful in some cases.

 

Figure 34.1 Adoptive transfer of antibodies in immunotherapy for cancer: