RELEVANCE OF THE IMMUNE-SYSTEM IN HUMAN UROLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES - PROSPECTIVE FOR FUTURE CLINICAL TREATMENTS

The possible role of the immune system in resisting human malignancies has long been debated. Several recent findings from animal and human studies have restimulated interest in the immune survelliance hypothes is for tumor control. These findings have been complied from various d isciplines including cytokine therapy, adoptive immunotherapy, and gen e therapy. Following the initial euphoria, it is now clear that immuno therapy of selected cancer cases in the early stages of tumor developm ent may make an important contribution to tumor control, particularly in dealing with minimal residual disease after tumor debulking. This r eview discusses some of these issues and proposes approaches that coul d pave the way for better selection of the patients best suited for im munotherapy. We would argue that therapies directed at the re-expressi on of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens might im prove outcomes in immune-therapy-based treatments. (C) 1998, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.