Cancer biotherapy: review and prospect

Abstract

Malignant tumors pose a grave threat to the quality of human life. The prevalence of malignant tumors in China is steadily rising. Presently, clinical interventions encompass surgery, radiotherapy, and pharmaceutical therapy in isolation or combination. Nonetheless, these modalities fail to completely eradicate malignant tumor cells, frequently leading to metastasis and recurrence. Conversely, tumor biotherapy has emerged as an encouraging fourth approach in preventing and managing malignant tumors owing to its safety, efficacy, and minimal adverse effects. Currently, a range of tumor biotherapy techniques are employed, including gene therapy, tumor vaccines, monoclonal antibody therapy, cancer stem cell therapy, cytokine therapy, and adoptive cellular immunotherapy. This study aims to comprehensively review the latest developments in biological treatments for malignant tumors.

Keywords: Biological therapy; Gene therapy; Immunotherapy; Tumors.

Fig. 1

A hundred years of development of cancer biotherapy

Fig. 2

Main treatment mode of tumor biology. A Biotherapy for malignant tumors encompasses diverse methodologies, including genes therapy, tumor vaccines, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) therapy, stem cells (SC) therapy, cytokines therapy, and adoptive cell therapies (ACT); B) There are blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, bone marrow-derived inflammatory cells, various signaling molecules and extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment

Fig. 3

Mechanisms of gene therapy in cancer. A Tumor suppressor genes therapy aims to introduce normal oncogenes into tumor cells using vectors. This procedure replaces the mutated oncogenes with functional ones, restoring average growth and development in the tumor cells. B Suicide genes therapy, or enzyme-mediated prodrug therapy, is a dynamic process involving two steps. Initially, the genetic material of tumor cells is altered by introducing non-harmful enzyme genes (referred to as suicide genes) that code for enzymes responsible for activating prodrugs. Subsequently, these enzymes facilitate the conversion of benign drugs into toxic substances, eradicating the tumor cells. C Oncolytic viruses are a replicating viruses that specifically target and replicate within tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), leaving normal cells unharmed

Fig. 4

Preparation process of tumor vaccine. The first step in this process involves extracting tumor tissue from a patient with a tumor. This tissue is then divided into tumor lysates. These lysates are loaded into different delivery vehicles and subsequently reinjected into cancer patients. The purpose of this is to stimulate the production of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which are responsible for killing tumor cells

Fig. 5

Process of monoclonal antibody preparation. Initially, mice are immunized with the antigen, which then reaches peripheral immune organs via blood or lymph circulation. This process stimulates the cloning, activation, proliferation, and differentiation of corresponding B lymphocytes into sensitized B lymphocytes. Subsequently, the mice are sacrificed, and the spleens are aseptically removed. Spleen cells are prepared, and a spleen cell suspension is created. These lymphocytes can then fuse with myeloma cells, resulting in the formation of hybridoma cells. Finally, the hybridoma cells are selected for further study

Fig. 6

Types of adoptive cell transfer therapies. ACT is a treatment strategy that involves gathering immune cells from the patient, specifically killer T cells. These cells are then nurtured and altered outside the body to enhance their capacity to specifically eliminate cancerous cells. Following this manipulation, the modified cells are reintroduced into the patient's system to effectively eradicate the tumor cells