The successful treatment of
hematological malignancies remains challenging. Prognosis is often dismal given the frequency of disease relapse or treatment refractory disease. Cytotoxic and
cytostatic chemotherapy remain mainstream
therapeutics for most
hematological malignancies. However, improved understanding of
tumor immunobiology is providing appealing anti-
cancer strategies targeting selected component of immune response. Since approval of
rituximab for treating B cell
malignancies in 1997, availability of
monoclonal antibodies against
tumor specific surface molecules has driven the development of the emerging field of
cancer immunotherapy. This strategy of modulating the immune response is taking an increasingly prominent role in the treatment of
hematological malignancies with several new antibody-based
therapeutics becoming available for patients with
leukemia/
lymphoma. In addition, with an increasingly appreciated role for T cell immunity in
cancer pathogenesis, strategies enhancing T cell activation as well as inhibiting T cell suppression mechanisms are under active development. Therapeutic
vaccines to improve efficacy of antigen processing and presentation, agonists for co-stimulatory molecules, adoptive transfer of genetically-modified T cells, as well as agents that suppress negative regulatory pathways for T cell function are all under active clinical investigation. Although most of these studies are in early stages, preliminary data are very promising. Availability of additional immune-based therapeutic options for patients with
hematological malignancies is anticipated in the near future.