Calling cells to arms

Increased understanding of immune- and tumour-cell biology has led to an explosion of research into potential ways to harness the immune system to kill cancer. By Emily Elert.

Natural immune response

The body's specific immune response begins when specialized immune cells present pieces of foreign matter, called antigens, to immature immune cells in the lymph nodes (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Therapeutic approaches

Current cancer immunotherapies can be broken down into three major types: non-specific therapies, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Searching for synergy

Single immunotherapies have been only modestly effective, so researchers are searching for synergistic combinations of drugs. The ideal attack below includes existing therapies, drugs in clinical trials and theoretical compounds (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Immunotherapies on trial

The number of cancer immunotherapies in phase III clinical trials has risen sharply since the early 1990s, reflecting renewed interest in immune-based cancer treatments among researchers and drug-makers (Figure 4).

Figure 4

A durable concept

Milestones in the history of cancer immunotherapy (Figure 5).

Figure 5

WELLCOME LIBRARY; DR MARK J. WINTER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; DAVID SCHARF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; NIBSC/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; DR MARK J. WINTER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY