| The concept that human tumours evoke immune responses in patients which might be harnessed for therapeutic benefit is at least a century old. Numerous, uncontrolled active immunisation studies with autologous or allogeneic tumour preparations have been undertaken, which frequently revealed anecdotal responses but failed to translate into significant results in large, randomised studies. To date, only two products, Melacine (an allogeneic cell vaccine incorporating an immunologic adjuvant for malignant melanoma) and M-Vax (an autologous melanoma cell vaccine) have gained regulatory approval, in single territories.Understanding of the molecular basis of human tumour antigen recognition has been greatly enhanced in recent years, through application of the tools of molecular genetics. These advances have helped to redefine the challenges involved in cancer immunotherapy and to provide the basis for a more empirical approach than has hitherto been achievable. |
