Immunotherapy of human colon cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a third leading cause of death due to cancer in Japan. Despite major advances in early detection as well as in surgical therapy, the overall mortality rate associated with this disease has not changed significantly over the last few decades. Indeed, a large number of patients die of this disease each year principally because of advanced stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis, or due to recurrence of previously treated colon cancers. Since currently available interventions for advanced diseases are less than completely effective and exert a substantial toll on the patients who receive them, the death rate and the quality of life will undoubtedly remain the same until improved methods for treatment of this illness become available. Thus, novel therapeutic approaches are needed for treatment of colon cancer. The objective of this review is to describe novel immunological approaches that are useful for inhibiting the growth of human colon cancer.