Artikel
Immunotherapeutic options in gastric cancer
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Veröffentlicht: | 20. März 2006 |
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Gliederung
Text
Despite interdisciplinary approach to gastric cancer with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, the outcome in gastric cancer remains poor. This circumstance is due tothe systemic character of the disease and an early onset of tumor cells dissemination (minimal residual disease, MRD). Established therapies decline the overall immune response of the patient in addition to the systemic disease. So a stimulation of the immune system should be part of new therapies. A medline analysis was performed, to investigate alternative therapeutic options in gastric cancer with respect especially to immunotherapeutic approaches. Only therapies with clinical evaluation were regardedin this analysis. Those therapies included immunostimulation, vaccination with tumorinfiltrating lymphocytes orperipheral bone marrowcellls,activation of t-cells or dendritic cells. Stimulation with interleukin-2and peptides were described as well. Other substances likeOK-432, G17DT were investiged in larger patient series. New approaches include antibody derived therapies like antiangiogenesis or anti-VEGF - antibodies. Own experience was made with the apoptosis inducing antibodySC-1. Allthough non of this new immunotherapeutic medicaments has been prooven with significant advantage in overall survival,some options might be of further interest in combinationwith established therapies. Especially the elimination ofdisseminated tumor cells and treatment of MRD should be part of future options in this poor malignant disease.