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Review
. 2013 Jul 29:1:12.
doi: 10.1186/2051-1426-1-12. eCollection 2013.

Primer on tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy

Timothy J Harris  1 , Charles G Drake  2
Affiliations
Review

Primer on tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy

Timothy J Harris et al. J Immunother Cancer. .

Abstract

Individualized cancer therapy is a central goal of cancer biologists. Immunotherapy is a rational means to this end-because the immune system can recognize a virtually limitless number of antigens secondary to the biology of genetic recombination in B and T lymphocytes. The immune system is exquisitely structured to distinguish self from non-self, as demonstrated by anti-microbial immune responses. Moreover the immune system has the potential to recognize self from "altered-self", which is the case for cancer. However, the immune system has mechanisms in place to inhibit self-reactive responses, many of which are usurped by evolving tumors. Understanding the interaction of cancer with the immune system provides insights into mechanisms that can be exploited to disinhibit anti-tumor immune responses. Here, we summarize the 2012 SITC Primer, reviewing past, present, and emerging immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer-including targeting innate versus adaptive immune components; targeting and/or utilizing dendritic cells and T cells; the role of the tumor microenvironment; and immune checkpoint blockade.

Keywords: Adoptive T cell therapy; Cancer vaccine; Immune checkpoint; Immunotherapy.

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