Cancer immunoprevention

Future Oncol. 2005 Feb;1(1):57-66. doi: 10.1517/14796694.1.1.57.

Abstract

Immunoprevention is a fresh approach to cancer prevention based on the stimulation of the immune system before tumor onset. Immunoprevention was effective in various models of carcinogen-induced or autochthonous tumor progression. Vaccines made of cells or DNA plasmids combined with appropriate adjuvants completely blocked mammary carcinogenesis in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. At variance with cancer immunotherapy, the mediators of immunoprevention are antibodies and T-cell-derived cytokines, rather than cytotoxic T-cells. Immunopreventive approaches and chemoprevention with tamoxifen or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors can be combined advantageously. The success obtained in preclinical studies suggests that cancer immunoprevention should progress to clinical testing.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune System / physiology
  • Interleukin-12 / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Precancerous Conditions / immunology
  • Precancerous Conditions / prevention & control
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / immunology*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Interleukin-12
  • Receptor, ErbB-2