Immunologic approaches to antigen discovery for cancer vaccines.

Since the early 1990s, scientists have identified an ever-expanding number of antigens to serve as targets for experimental cancer treatments, based on the stimulation of a patient's immune system. Using both immune cells and serum to screen potential candidates, several promising antigens are currently components of vaccines directed against a wide range of tumour types. These antigens vary in their tumour- and tissue-specificity. Their utility as a single reagent or as part of a multi-dimensional approach is as varied as the genes themselves. However, there are already reports indicating that the promise of evoking a clinically beneficial immune response, toward human tumours, is being fulfilled. In this review, we provide a summary of the current status of immunologic approaches to antigen discovery. We also discuss the need for additional, supportive data from non-immunologic techniques, as well as the progression of the preclinical process towards target validation.