Current immunotherapeutic strategies for central nervous system tumors.

Abstract

Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising tool in the management of malignant central nervous system tumors. Despite improvement in patient survival, traditional approaches, which consist mostly of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have been largely unsuccessful in permanently controlling these aggressive tumors. Immunotherapeutic strategies offer not only a novel approach but also an advantage in a way other modalities have been failing. Specifically, the capabilities of the immune system to recognize altered cells while leaving normal cells intact offer tremendous advantage over the conventional therapeutic approaches. This article summarizes our current understanding of immunotherapeutic treatment modalities used in clinical trials for management of malignant central nervous system tumors.

• Authors: Medina C Kushen, Adam M Sonabend, Maciej S Lesniak
• Journal: Surgical oncology clinics of North America (Surg Oncol Clin N Am) Vol. 16 Issue 4 Pg. 987-1004, xii (Oct 2007) ISSN: 1055-3207 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18022555 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Cancer Vaccines

Topics

• Cancer Vaccines (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Central Nervous System Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology, therapy)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Humans
• Immunotherapy (trends)