[Antitumor immunotherapy].

Abstract

In this article we present new immunotherapy modalities in clinical oncology. We review various forms of immunotherapy as well as their clinical effectiveness. At present, effects of cellular adoptive therapy are not satisfying. However, much hope is provided by monoclonal antibodies against tumor-associated antigens. Efficacy of monoclonal antibodies may be increased by their conjugation with various cytotoxic molecules. The number of indications for clinical applications of recombinant cytokines, mainly interferons, IL-2 and CSFs is growing. Genetic engineering creates new possibilities also in this case; modification of cytokine molecules as well as production of fusion proteins, i.e. design of quite novel protein structures that combine the function of two or more cytokines. It is very likely that antineoplastic immunotherapy might become, as is the case with gene therapy, one of future powerful tool against cancer.