Targeting the Immune System as a Therapeutic Strategy for Patients with Breast Cancer

The immune system plays an important role in the development and growth of some cancers. Therefore, modulation of the immune system by activation of factors that stimulate an anti-tumor response and/or inhibition of factors that suppress an anti-tumor response could result in tumor regression. Vacci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current breast cancer reports 2010-12, Vol.2 (4), p.214-221
Main Author: Gilewski, Teresa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Internal Medicine
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Oncology
Surgical Oncology
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Summary:The immune system plays an important role in the development and growth of some cancers. Therefore, modulation of the immune system by activation of factors that stimulate an anti-tumor response and/or inhibition of factors that suppress an anti-tumor response could result in tumor regression. Vaccines, antibodies, and other factors, especially those that impact on T lymphocyte and dendritic cell activity, may enhance an anti-tumor response. The combination of immunotherapeutic agents with each other and their integration with standard treatment regimens, such as chemotherapy, may be important to achieving optimal clinical results. The design of these clinical studies must consider the unique aspects of immune modulating agents. Despite multiple challenges, targeting the immune system has great potential as a therapeutic strategy for patients with breast cancer.
ISSN:1943-4588
1943-4596
DOI:10.1007/s12609-010-0029-x