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Immunotherapy of cancer in 2012†‡

  1. John M. Kirkwood MD1,*,
  2. Lisa H. Butterfield PhD2,
  3. Ahmad A. Tarhini MD, PhD3,
  4. Hassane Zarour MD4,
  5. Pawel Kalinski MD, PhD5,
  6. Soldano Ferrone MD, PhD6

Article first published online: 10 MAY 2012

DOI: 10.3322/caac.20132

Issue

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

Volume 62, Issue 5, pages 309–335, September/October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kirkwood, J. M., Butterfield, L. H., Tarhini, A. A., Zarour, H., Kalinski, P. and Ferrone, S. (2012), Immunotherapy of cancer in 2012. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 62: 309–335. doi: 10.3322/caac.20132

Author Information

  1. 1

    Usher Professor of Medicine, Dermatology, and Translational Science, Director, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA

  2. 2

    Associate Professor of Medicine, Surgery, and Immunology, Director, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Immunologic Monitoring and Cellular Products Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Research Pavilion, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA

  3. 3

    Assistant Professor of Medicine and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA

  4. 4

    Associate Professor of Medicine, Immunology, and Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA

  5. 5

    Professor of Surgery, Immunology, and Infectious Disease Microbiology, Director of Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA

  6. 6

    Professor of Surgery, Immunology and Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA

*Department of Medicine, Dermatology, and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Research Pavilion, Suite 1.32, 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

  1. †

    The authors would like to acknowledge the help of Bonita Mislanovich.

  2. ‡

    DISCLOSURES: Supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants CA39229, CA21115, CA47904, CA121973, and CA132714 (to J.M.K.); grants CA138635, CA121973, and P30CA47904 (to L.B.); grants CA109688, CA110249, CA138188, and CA105500 (to S.F.); grants CA095128, CA114931, CA121973, and CA132714 (to P.K.); grant CA121973 (to A.T.); and grants CA90360, CA112198, CA121973, and CA157467 (to H.Z.).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 SEP 2012
  2. Article first published online: 10 MAY 2012

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Abstract

The immunotherapy of cancer has made significant strides in the past few years due to improved understanding of the underlying principles of tumor biology and immunology. These principles have been critical in the development of immunotherapy in the laboratory and in the implementation of immunotherapy in the clinic. This improved understanding of immunotherapy, enhanced by increased insights into the mechanism of tumor immune response and its evasion by tumors, now permits manipulation of this interaction and elucidates the therapeutic role of immunity in cancer. Also important, this improved understanding of immunotherapy and the mechanisms underlying immunity in cancer has fueled an expanding array of new therapeutic agents for a variety of cancers. Pegylated interferon-α2b as an adjuvant therapy and ipilimumab as therapy for advanced disease, both of which were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for melanoma in March 2011, are 2 prime examples of how an increased understanding of the principles of tumor biology and immunology have been translated successfully from the laboratory to the clinical setting. Principles that guide the development and application of immunotherapy include antibodies, cytokines, vaccines, and cellular therapies. The identification and further elucidation of the role of immunotherapy in different tumor types, and the development of strategies for combining immunotherapy with cytotoxic and molecularly targeted agents for future multimodal therapy for cancer will enable even greater progress and ultimately lead to improved outcomes for patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. CA Cancer J Clin 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.

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