Gene therapy for carcinoma of the breast - Genetic immunotherapy

Advances in gene transfer technology have greatly expanded the opportunitie s for developing immunotherapy strategies for breast carcinoma. Genetic imm unotherapy approaches include the transfer of genes encoding cytokines and costimulatory molecules to modulate immune function, as well as genetic imm unization strategies which rely on the delivery of cloned tumor antigens. I mproved gene transfer vectors, coupled with a better understanding of the p rocesses that are necessary to elicit an immune response and an expanding n umber of target breast tumor antigens, have led to renewed enthusiasm that effective immunotherapy may be achieved. It is likely that immunotherapeuti c interventions will find their greatest clinical application as adjuvants to traditional first-line therapies, targeting micrometastatic disease and thereby reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.