Current approaches of tumor immunotherapy

Abstract

Our immune system, fine-tuned by a long evolution, has a near-infinite capacity to recognize potential pathogens and mutant self proteins. It has also got a varied arsenal of killing mechanisms to battle intruders and mutant cells. Since malignant transformation involves 1) mutations of proteins of various classes and 2) over-expression of non-altered genes, either related or unrelated to the oncogenic process, the adaptive immune system has the potential to recognize and clear malignantly transformed cells. Immunotherapeutic interventions might 1) trigger an immune response to otherwise tolerated tumor antigens, 2) enhance the existing, but insufficient anti-tumor immune response, add new receptors, recombinant antibodies or T cell receptors, to the system, or 4) rely on the transfer of ex vivo expanded immune effector cells. Although tumor immunotherapy is decades-old, immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, probably the most significant breakthrough, is a development of the last few years. Reaching its maturity, tumor immunotherapy is just now becoming an integral part of tumor therapy.