Immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer treatment: A novel protein transfer approach for cancer vaccine development

Abstract

Cancer cells have developed numerous ways to escape immune surveillance and gain unlimited proliferative capacity. Currently, several chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy, either alone or in combination, are being used to treat malignancies. However, both of these therapies are associated with several limitations and detrimental side effects. Therefore, recent scientific investigations suggest that immunotherapy is among the most promising new approaches in modern cancer therapy. The focus of cancer immunotherapy is to boost both acquired and innate immunity against malignancies by specifically targeting tumor cells, and leaving healthy cells and tissues unharmed. Cellular, cytokine, gene, and monoclonal antibody therapies have progressively become promising immunotherapeutic approaches that are being tested for several cancers in preclinical models as well as in the clinic. In this review, we discuss recent advances in these immunotherapeutic approaches, focusing on new strategies that allow the expression of specific immunostimulatory molecules on the surface of tumor cells to induce robust antitumor immunity.

Immune evasion in cancer: Mechanistic basis and therapeutic strategies

“…In addition to cellular targets, several molecular targets including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA)-4 [145], 4-1BB [146], PD1/PD-L1 [147], and activation-inducible TNFR (AITR), T cell immunoglobulin mucin (TIM)-3, Lymphocyteactivation gene (LAG)-3, OX40, CD40, CD39, CD73, A2A [148] and cancer antigens of different types, such as melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) family members and NY-ESO-1, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and Wilm's tumor (WT)1 have been considered as important antitumor targets [149]. In melanoma, MAGE, B melanoma antigen (BAGE), and G antigen (GAGE) family antigens have been targeted for therapeutic vaccination [150,151].…”

Peptides in Melanoma Therapy

“…1): the cellular and molecular features of this biological scenario can ultimately tip the balance towards an effective immune response rather than immunological tolerance or even ignorance [99][100][101][102]. Based on this general concept, a variety of strategies have been devised to polarize the immune system against cancer: a comprehensive review of this ever growing field of research is beyond the scope of this article, and in this regard the readers are referred to dedicated review articles [103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110].…”

Prospects, promise and problems on the road to effective vaccines and related therapies for substance abuse

“…After a hiatus of more than 10 years following the unfortunate outcome of an early clinical trial of protein therapy based on gene transfer [30] this approach is re-emerging as an option for a number of chronic conditions, including clotting disorders [31], immunodeficiency [32], inherited blindness [33], and cancer [34]. Substance abuse and addiction may also prove amenable to gene transfer, in this case by delivering “interceptor molecules” that prevent drug access to brain targets.…”