The cost of publication in Journal of Biomedical Science is borne by the National Science Council, Taiwan.
Review
Immunotherapy for liver tumors: present status and future prospects
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* Corresponding authors: O Graciela Scharovsky graciela.scharovsky@gmail.com - Guillermo Mazzolini gmazzoli@cas.austral.edu.ar
1 Institute of Experimental Genetics, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Santa Fe 3100, (2000) Rosario, Argentina
2 Gene Therapy Laboratory, Liver Unit, School of Medicine, Austral University, Av. Presidente Perón 1500, (B1629ODT) Derqui-Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3 CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Buenos Aires, Argentina
4 VentureL@b, Escuela de Negocios, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Av. Diagonal Las Torres 2700, Peñalolen 791000, Santiago, Chile
Journal of Biomedical Science 2009, 16:30 doi:10.1186/1423-0127-16-30
Published: 6 March 2009Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that immune responses are involved in the control of cancer and that the immune system can be manipulated in different ways to recognize and attack tumors. Progress in immune-based strategies has opened new therapeutic avenues using a number of techniques destined to eliminate malignant cells. In the present review, we overview current knowledge on the importance, successes and difficulties of immunotherapy in liver tumors, including preclinical data available in animal models and information from clinical trials carried out during the lasts years. This review shows that new options for the treatment of advanced liver tumors are urgently needed and that there is a ground for future advances in the field.