A model for potential tumor immunotherapy based on knowledge of immune mechanisms responsible for spontaneous abortion

Citation
Jh. Check et al., A model for potential tumor immunotherapy based on knowledge of immune mechanisms responsible for spontaneous abortion, MED HYPOTH, 57(3), 2001, pp. 337-343
Citations number
71
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
MEDICAL HYPOTHESES
ISSN journal
03069877 → ACNP
Volume
57
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
337 - 343
Database
ISI
SICI code
0306-9877(200109)57:3<337:AMFPTI>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
Attempts to treat various cancers by immunotherapy have been tried for abou t 50 years. Most studies have focused on improving cytotoxic T lymphocyte ( CTL) responses against various tumors. Immunotherapy has been both active a nd passive, and results have been modest at best. Spontaneous abortion (SAB ) of pregnancies could in some ways resemble remission of a tumor. Both tum ors and conceptusses are faced with a similar problem - how to grow in a ho st in a vascular rich area, and yet escape immune surveillance despite both entities being an allogenic stimulus. In general, the fetus is far more im munogenic than a spontaneous tumor, and yet abortuses seem to avoid CTL res ponses but are sometimes invaded by natural killer (NK) cells. There are da ta suggesting that SAB will occur if there is inhibition of production of a n immunosuppressive protein called progesterone-induced blocking factor (PI BF). This protein inhibits NK cell cytolysis and influences TH2 cytokine do minance over TH1. If some tumors avoid NK cell destruction through a PIBF m echanism, perhaps an active rejection of these tumors could be achieved by inhibiting PIBF production by treating with a progesterone receptor antagon ist. Passive immunization could also be considered by conjugative radionucl ide or toxic chemical to a PIBF antibody which may be tumor specific since PIBF is not produced in normal tissue. The first stop should be to see if P IBF can be detected in the peripheral circulation in patients with certain tumors. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.