A strategy for tumor immunotherapy which has been in practice for a limited number of tumors for decades relies on the injection of monoclonal antibodies which target cancer cells for immune destruction or inhibition of growth (Fig. 1A). Monoclonal antibodies against various tumor antigens have been used in many cancers. The antibodies bind to antigens on the surface of the tumors (not the neoantigens produced inside cells) and activate host effector mechanisms, such as phagocytes, NK cells, or the complement system, that destroy the tumor cells. For example, an antibody specific for CD20, which is expressed on B cells, is used to treat B cell tumors, usually in combination with chemotherapy. Although normal B cells are also depleted, their function can be replaced by administration of pooled immunoglobulin from nor mal donors. Because CD20 is not expressed by hematopoietic stem cells, normal B cells are replenished after the antibody treatment is stopped. Other monoclonal antibodies that are used in cancer therapy may work by blocking growth factor signaling (e.g., anti-Her2/Neu for breast cancer and anti–EGF-receptor antibody for various tumors) or by inhibiting angiogenesis (e.g., antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor for colon cancer and other tumors).

Fig1. Tumor immunotherapy by adoptive transfer of antibodies and T cells. A, Passive immunotherapy with tumor specific T cells or monoclonal antibodies. B, Adoptive T cell therapy with CAR-T cells: T cells isolated from the blood of a patient are expanded by culture with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28, genetically modified to express recombinant chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) , and transferred back into the patient.

مواضيع ذات صلة

Immune Mechanisms of Graft Rejection

Induction of Immune Responses Against Transplants

Transplantation Antigens

Glycans and Immunity

Immune Responses Against Transplants

Cancer Immunotherapy : Stimulation of Host Antitumor Immune Responses by Vaccination With Tumor Antigens

Cancer Immunotherapy: Immune Checkpoint Blockade

Cancer Immunotherapy: Adoptive T Cell Therapy

Evasion of Immune Responses by Tumors

PROCESS OF PHAGOCYTOSIS

GRANULOCYTIC CELLS

B Cell Epitope Binding Predictions