The ultimate in cancer chemoprevention: cancer vaccines

Abstract

This perspective on Beatty et al. (beginning on page 438 in this issue of the journal) discusses the role of the immune system as nature's ultimate chemoprevention agent. A successful immune response to vaccination results in immunologic memory. In the case of a successful cancer-related response, antigen-specific T cells will be poised to destroy an aberrantly expressed protein even if the host is not exposed until years after the end of immunizations. After the abnormal cell is eradicated, T cells will lie in wait for the next exposure. The ability to develop effective cancer vaccines for prevention is fast becoming a reality as immunogenic aberrant proteins that drive malignant transformation are identified.