OVARIAN TUMOR-ANTIGENS AS POTENTIAL TARGETS FOR IMMUNE GENE-THERAPY

Major new developments in the understanding of the molecular mechanism s involved in immune recognition of self, and immune mediated rejectio n of foreign antigens, have resulted in the development of a variety o f novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer. Cornerston es of the advances in this area have been the identification of tumour antigens and demonstrate of immune recognition of neoplastic cells, m ost notably in malignant melanoma. There are now a number of clinical immune gene therapy trials in progress for the treatment of cancer by stimulating immune mediated rejection of malignant cells. Here we exam ine the evidence for immune recognition of ovarian tumor antigens as p otential targets for immune gene therapy of ovarian carcinoma.