Zeitschrift für klinische und zelluläre Immunologie
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Immunological Approaches for Treatment of Advanced Stage Cancers Invariably Refractory to Drugs

Talwar GP, Jagdish C. Gupta, Yogesh Kumar, Kripa N. Nand, Neha Ahlawat, Himani Garg, Kannagi Rana and Hilal Bhat

Worldwide, deaths due to cancers are taking an increasing toll. Invariably over time cancer cells become refractory to available drugs. At this stage, the tumor is largely metastasized and not amenable to radical surgery or focal radiations. This review seeks to bring out the existence of heterogeneity of cell types in each cancer, and proposes adoption of a combined approach employing more than one therapeutic agent for a more lasting treatment. Also proposed is the use of monoclonal therapeutic antibodies and vaccines against ectopically expressed key molecules for killing of cancer cells and prevention of their multiplication. Focus is on androgenindependent carcinoma of prostate and a variety of cancers expressing ectopically human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and/or Carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA). The utility of using antibodies directed against cell membrane located epitopes for homing and delivery of a safe anti-cancerous compound Curcumin to cancer cells is also described.