TUMOR-IMMUNOTHERAPY - CYTOKINES AND ANTIGEN PRESENTATION

Increasing the ability of tumor-reactive T cells to mediate tumor regr ession in vivo has been a major goal of tumor immunologists. Progress toward this goal has been aided by the identification of tumor-associa ted antigens on both experimental mouse tumors and human tumors. Howev er, the self-like nature and low immunogenicity of these antigens has made it clear that other measures to enhance the effectiveness of the T cells reactive to these antigens are essential if immunotherapy is t o be clinically effective. An increased understanding of antigen proce ssing and presentation is an important step in this process, as is the use of cytokines to increase immune responsiveness. Despite re cent a dvances, there is still much to be learned before the specificity of t he immune system is safely harnessed to halt malignant cell growth eff ectively.