DNA Vaccination: Using the Patient's Immune System to Overcome Cancer

Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases of today. Optimization of standard treatment protocols consisting of the main columns of chemo- and radiotherapy followed or preceded by surgical intervention is often limited by toxic side effects and induction of concomitant malignancies and/or develo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Georg Eschenburg, Alexander Stermann, Robert Preissner, Hellmuth-Alexander Meyer, Holger N. Lode
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Clinical and Developmental Immunology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/169484
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Summary:Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases of today. Optimization of standard treatment protocols consisting of the main columns of chemo- and radiotherapy followed or preceded by surgical intervention is often limited by toxic side effects and induction of concomitant malignancies and/or development of resistant mechanisms. This requires the development of therapeutic strategies which are as effective as standard therapies but permit the patients a life without severe negative side effects. Along this line, the development of immunotherapy in general and the innovative concept of DNA vaccination in particular may provide a venue to achieve this goal. Using the patient's own immune system by activation of humoral and cellular immune responses to target the cancer cells has shown first promising results in clinical trials and may allow reduced toxicity standard therapy regimen in the future. The main challenge of this concept is to transfer the plethora of convincing preclinical and early clinical results to an effective treatment of patients.
ISSN:1740-2522
1740-2530