• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.209-218
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• 1992

Despite the availability of drugs effective in producing a bacteriological cure, tuberculosis presents continuing problems in its control, especially in the developing world. An effective immunotherapy to be used with chemotherapy is urgently required. Intradermal injection of a suspenison of killed Mycobacterium vaccae switches off the tissue-necrotizing component of the Koch phenomenon, and promotes cell-mediated responses to the common, putative protective, mycobacterial antigens. These properties led to the empolyment of the suspension in immunotherapy as an adjunct to chemotherapy in the treatment of both tuberculosis and leprosy. The evidence leading to these conclusions is reviewed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2020

Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although there are many possible treatments, including targeted therapies such as epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors and anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors, new therapeutic strategies are needed to improve clinical outcomes. Immunotherapy through the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has provided one of the most important breakthroughs in the management of solid tumors, including lung cancers, and has shown promising results in numerous clinical trials. This review will present the current status of immunotherapy for lung cancer and future perspectives on these treatments.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2020

Changing trends in anticancer research have altered the treatment paradigm to the extent that it is difficult to investigate any anticancer drugs without mentioning immunotherapy. Thus, we are finally contemplating tumour regression using magic bullets known as immunotherapy drugs. This review explores the possible options and pitfalls in tumour regression by first elucidating the features of cancer and the importance of tumour microenvironments. Next, we evaluated the trends of anticancer therapeutics regulating tumour microenvironment. Finally, we introduced the concept of tumour regression and various targets of tumour microenvironment, which can be used in combination with current immunotherapy for tumour regression. In particular, we emphasize the importance of regulating the neurological manifestations of tumour microenvironment (N) in addition to inflammation (I) and hypoxia (H) in cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2014

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and more than 80% of cases are of non-small cell lung cancer. Although chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapy may provide some benefit, there is a need for newer therapies for the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC. Immunotherapy aims to augment the recognition of cancer as foreign, to stimulate immune responsiveness, and to relieve the inhibition of the immune response that allows tolerance to tumor survival and growth. Two immunotherapeutic approaches showing promise in NSCLC are immune checkpoint inhibition and cancer vaccination. Although currently immunotherapy does not have an established role in the treatment of NSCLC, these patients should be enrolled in formal clinical trials.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.308-317
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• 2021

Cancer is the leading cause of death and is on the rise worldwide. Until 2010, the development of targeted treatment was mainly focused on the growth mechanisms of cancer. Since then, drugs with mechanisms related to tumor immunity, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, have proven effective, and most pharmaceutical companies are striving to develop related drugs. Programmed cell death-1 and programmed cell death ligand-1 inhibitors have shown great success in various cancer types. They showed durable and sustainable responses and were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, the response to inhibitors showed low percentages of cancer patients; 15% to 20%. Therefore, combination strategies with immunotherapy and conventional treatments were used to overcome the low response rate. Studies on combination therapy have typically reported improvements in the response rate and efficacy in several cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and urogenital cancers. The combination of chemotherapy or targeted agents with immunotherapy is one of the leading pathways for cancer treatment.

• Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.259-263
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• 2018

There are many treatment options for the malignant melanoma. Wide excisional surgery is one of the most acceptable treatments for locoregional treatment. Depending on the pathologic classification, however, some other treatment option can be included such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy as adjuvant treatment. Small cell type malignant melanoma is a rare variant of malignant melanoma. It is known that melanomas manifesting this morphology are invariably in vertical growth phase and have an aggressive course. The authors encountered small cell type malignant melanoma and would like to share the experience of successful treatment with surgery plus immunotherapy as one of adjuvant treatment options.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.70-88
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• 2021

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment and become a standard pillar of the treatment. The two main drivers, immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells, contributed to this unprecedented success. However, despite the striking clinical improvements, most patients still suffer from disease progression because of the evolution of primary or acquired resistance. This mini-review summarizes new treatment options including novel targets and interesting combinational approaches to increase our understanding of the mechanisms of the action of and resistance to immunotherapy, to expand our knowledge of advances in biomarker and therapeutics development, and to help to find the most appropriate option or a way of overcoming the resistance for cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2024

After the successful development of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), these innovative treatment options are rapidly being applied in the adjuvant setting for early-stage NSCLC. Some adjuvants that have recently been approved include osimertinib for epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated tumors and atezolizumab and pembrolizumab for selected patients with resectable NSCLC. Numerous studies on various targeted therapies and immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy are currently ongoing in the adjuvant setting. However, several questions regarding optimal strategies for adjuvant treatment remain unanswered. The present review summarizes the available literature, focusing on recent advances and ongoing trials with targeted therapy and immunotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of early-stage NSCLC.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.12.1-12.13
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• 2022

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is presumed to modulate the natural course of allergic disease by inducing immune tolerance. However, conventional AITs, such as subcutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy, require long treatment durations and often provoke local or systemic hypersensitivity reactions. Therefore, only <5% of allergy patients receive AIT as second-line therapy. Novel administration routes, such as intralymphatic, intradermal and epicutaneous immunotherapies, and synthetic recombinant allergen preparations have been evaluated to overcome these limitations. We will review the updated views of diverse AIT methods, and discuss the limitations and opportunities of the AITs for the treatment of allergic diseases in humans.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.89-103
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• 2010

Background: The greatest threats to the lives of cancer patients consist of both complications due to metastasis and the recurrence of original cancer. However, the existing forms of chemotherapy do not prevent these adverse events adequately because they suppress the patients' immune systems. A new methodology is required. Aim: To provide further validation for cancer immunotherapy (involving the use of traditional oriental herbal medicine). Method: Related articles, in both Korean and English were reviewed. Results: Cancer immunotherapy involving the use of traditional oriental herbal medicine can create inhospitable conditions for cancer cells and strengthen patients' immunological functioning. These effects are a demonstration of the principles of "strengthening healthy qi (扶正)" and "eliminating pathogens (祛邪)". As a result, immunotherapy protects against metastasis and original cancer recurrence by preventing the growth of cancer cells. This is very similar to the concept of a cancer dormancy therapy. Conclusion: It is strongly urged by the authors that more advanced studies be carried out on this promising therapy in the future in order to improve patients' quality of life and increase their survival time.