Immunotherapy and prostate cancer

• Published in: Cancer treatment reviews Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 199 - 209
• Main Authors: Kaminski, Joseph M, Summers, James B, Ward, Matthew B, Huber, Mark R, Minev, Boris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2003
• Subjects: Antigens, Neoplasm - immunology; Antigens, Neoplasm - therapeutic use; cancer; Cytokines - immunology; Cytokines - therapeutic use; gene therapy; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Immunotherapy; Male; prostate; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - immunology; Prostatic Neoplasms - therapy; gene therapy; prostate; cancer; Immunotherapy
• ISSN: 0305-7372; 1532-1967
• DOI: 10.1016/S0305-7372(03)00005-7

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US, largely because of the limitations of our current therapeutic options, especially once the cancer has metastasized. Investigators have long sought new therapeutic modalities such as angiogenesis inhibitors, vaccines, and gene therapy, among others. It appears that a combination approach will be required to cure the majority of malignancies. Immunotherapy for prostate cancer appears feasible and a likely therapeutic modality in the armamentarium. Unfortunately, further research in basic immunology and the interaction of the immune system with other forms of therapy is needed. Many obstacles exist in immunotherapy, including vector design, tumouricidal specificity, and tumor evasion, which will have to be overcome in order to realize the maximum therapeutic benefit from this treatment modality.