Prospects for the immunotherapy of cancer

Ribonucleic acids extracted from specifically sensitized lymphoid cells (I-RNA) have been shown to transfer specific immunoreactivity to normal non-immune lymphoid cells. Evidence for the transfer by I-RNA, of immune responses to tumor-associated antigens of animal and human neoplasms, in vivo and in vitro, is reviewed. Results obtained in our laboratory and in other laboratories indicate that xenogeneic, allogeneic and syngeneic I-RNA extracts mediate specific cytotoxicity to tumor cells, in vitro, and mediate transplantation resistance and tumor rejection responses in vivo. Our results suggest that I-RNA preparations fail to elicit immune responses directed against "self" antigens. By contrast, I-RNA's directed against "non-self" tumor-associated antigens appear to induce lymphocytes to effect specific anti-tumor immune responses. The mechanisms responsible for the failure of I-RNA to initiate immune responses against "self" antigens are not known at present and demand investigation. Preliminary results of a clinical Phase I trial of immunotherapy with xenogeneic I-RNA in selected cancer patients are reviewed. I-RNA might offer promise as a new modality for the immunotherapy of human cancer.

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Prospects for the immunotherapy of cancer

Cited by 12 publications

References 324 publications

Host Immune Response to Human Tumor Antigens

Host Immune Response to Human Tumor Antigens

In vitro generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes against radiation and radiation leukemia virus-induced tumors

Transfer tumorspezifischer Immunit�t mit ?Immun? RNA: Aussichten f�r eine Krebstherapie

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