Lung cancer vaccine therapy

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Japan and still requires more effective treatments. The potential of cancer vaccines is promising, although there are no satisfactory protocols available for lung cancer at present. However, encouraging evidence of clinical benefits from cancer vaccines is beginning to accumulate in several lung cancer trials. Here, we review recent advances in lung cancer vaccine trials, especially 5 phase III cancer vaccine trials including MAGE-A3, EGF, MUC-1, Belagenpumatucel-L, and MVA-MUC1-IL-2. In addition, we will focus on several phase I or II studies that take into account new strategies to overcome immune suppressive microenvironment and suggest future directions of lung cancer vaccines. © 2009 The Japan Lung Cancer Society.