Valerio Izzi, Marcin Buler, Laura Masuelli, Maria G. Giganti, Andrea Modesti and Roberto Bei Pages 183 - 189 ( 7 )
Poxvirus-based vaccines have a long record of efficacy as both anti-tumour agents and vectors for gene therapy in different human tumour models. Interestingly, several studies of these vaccines have now entered the clinical evaluation phase for safety and effectiveness. A desirable outcome of antigen specific cancer immunotherapy is the disruption of host self-tolerance against endogenous tumour-associated antigens (TAAs). Nonetheless, recent studies have found reductions in vaccine efficacy due to host anti-vaccine immune reactions. Thus, newer approaches bringing together poxvirus-based vaccination and immunostimulation are being developed, and new poxvirus strains are being examined in tumour therapy studies. </p> <p> Our review summarizes the current knowledge on the efficacy of poxvirus-based vaccination on human tumours, with a particular focus on approaches aimed at increasing innate and specific immune responses. Special attention will be devoted to the new poxvirus strains that are currently under consideration for tumour therapy; the current knowledge on clinical trials and outcomes will also be reviewed.
Avipoxviruses, cancer vaccine, cytokines, immunostimulation, poxviruses, tumour-associated antigens.
, , , , , Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Building F Sud, 2nd floor, Room 222.