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Cancer immunotherapy and its immunological basis: Monograph
128
BOOK
REVIEWS
catalogs searching for that specific reagent that we all heard about but cannot remember the source of.
Cancer Cancer
Immunotherapy Association.
and University
Its Immunolpgical Park
Press.
Basis: Baltimore.
Monograph. 1979.
250
Compiled pp..
by the .lapanese
$44.W.
The first monograph on the use of BCG in the therapy of cancer was published in 1972 by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. This is the second monograph to appear dealing with the cumulative findings and critical evaluation of immunotherapeutic approaches to malignant disease, a field of increasing interest to biologists and clinicians alike. Included are 23 papers presented at the Symposium on Cancer Immunotherapy and its Immunological Basis, sponsored by the Japanese Cancer Association in 1977. The first section deals with tumorassociated antigens, their detection, methods for increasing their antigenicity, and experimental details concerning the applicability of hapten-reactive helper T-cell activity to various tumor systems. The second section provides a description of different types of immunopotentiators and their modes of action. The therapeutic benefits and the mechanisms of adjuvant activity of different immunopotentiators in murine model systems are well documented. The final section encompasses clinical trials and provides information about the choice of immunopotentiators, their mechanism of action, beneficial effects in patients (i.e.. in terms of clinical status and tumor regression), and the stage of cancer in which therapy should be instituted. The use of immunopotentiators in lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer. acute leukemia, and malignant melanoma is described fully and critically evaluated. In the summation, Dr. William D. Terry has made fitting comments on the present status of immunotherapy. He warns, in particular. that one must not uncritically accept exciting published results of immunotherapy. This stimulating and informative monograph certainly could be used as a reference manual by those who are interested in instituting immunotherapy in cancer patients. The papers are vividly written and the reader can quickly gain insight into current trends, problems, and controversies.
BOOK
REVIEWS
catalogs searching for that specific reagent that we all heard about but cannot remember the source of.
Cancer Cancer
Immunotherapy Association.
and University
Its Immunolpgical Park
Press.
Basis: Baltimore.
Monograph. 1979.
250
Compiled pp..
by the .lapanese
$44.W.
The first monograph on the use of BCG in the therapy of cancer was published in 1972 by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. This is the second monograph to appear dealing with the cumulative findings and critical evaluation of immunotherapeutic approaches to malignant disease, a field of increasing interest to biologists and clinicians alike. Included are 23 papers presented at the Symposium on Cancer Immunotherapy and its Immunological Basis, sponsored by the Japanese Cancer Association in 1977. The first section deals with tumorassociated antigens, their detection, methods for increasing their antigenicity, and experimental details concerning the applicability of hapten-reactive helper T-cell activity to various tumor systems. The second section provides a description of different types of immunopotentiators and their modes of action. The therapeutic benefits and the mechanisms of adjuvant activity of different immunopotentiators in murine model systems are well documented. The final section encompasses clinical trials and provides information about the choice of immunopotentiators, their mechanism of action, beneficial effects in patients (i.e.. in terms of clinical status and tumor regression), and the stage of cancer in which therapy should be instituted. The use of immunopotentiators in lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer. acute leukemia, and malignant melanoma is described fully and critically evaluated. In the summation, Dr. William D. Terry has made fitting comments on the present status of immunotherapy. He warns, in particular. that one must not uncritically accept exciting published results of immunotherapy. This stimulating and informative monograph certainly could be used as a reference manual by those who are interested in instituting immunotherapy in cancer patients. The papers are vividly written and the reader can quickly gain insight into current trends, problems, and controversies.