Overview of Current Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

Immunotherapy has been investigated worldwide as the fourth cancer treatment modality, following the standard modalities of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Recently, the significant progress in our fundamental understanding of tumor immunology and the recent clinical advances in cancer immunotherapy trials have opened new avenues of cancer immunotherapy. At last, cancer immunotherapy has come of age, now. There is no longer any doubt that the immune system does work in tumor eradication. In this chapter, the progress made in cancer immunotherapy during the past half-century and the many types of cancer immunotherapy are summarized. A brief review of important nomenclature in tumor immunology is also provided, which may further facilitate the reader’s understanding of the later chapters. Moreover, a future perspective for cancer immunotherapy development is discussed. Finally, I would say now that one lymphocyte, one dendritic cell, one antigen, and one drug can change the cancer treatment, immunotherapy, together.