Cancer immunotherapy for metastasis: past, present and future

Brief Funct Genomics. 2019 Mar 22;18(2):140-146. doi: 10.1093/bfgp/ely022.

Abstract

Cancer is a complex and refractory disease, which can disseminate from primary site to a different site even at an early stage. Cancer immunotherapy harnesses host immune system to battle against cancer, but only a minority of patients benefit from it. Genetic-based technologies have significantly promoted the development of cancer immunotherapy. Here we describe genetic-based cancer immunotherapies in three aspects: recombinant cancer vaccine, immune checkpoint blockade therapy and adoptive cell transfer. In the future, multi-disciplinary collaboration will greatly increase the scope and effectiveness of cancer immunotherpy.

Keywords: adoptive cell transfer (ACT); cancer immunotherapy; gene; immune checkpoint blockade; vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines