Cytokine-modified tumor vaccines: an antitumor strategy revisited in the age of molecular medicine.

Technological advances and improved understanding of the biology of the immune response have resulted in a resurgence of interest in the use of tumor vaccination as a means to control cancer. Tumor vaccines genetically modified with cytokine genes comprise the greatest proportion of gene therapy approaches to cancer. Tumor cells obtained at resection of the primary tumor are grown in tissue culture and genetically modified with cytokine genes such that the vaccine cells, after injection, may stimulate immune recognition of tumor cells and generate immunologic memory to prevent future tumor recurrence. There are many unanswered questions regarding tumor vaccination including the optimal dose, optimal cytokine, injection technique including route and site of vaccine delivery, and methods of evaluating the immune response. Oncology nurses have an integral role in these areas as well as in evaluating patients for as yet undetermined side effects. As tumor vaccines receive increasing attention by the lay media, oncology nurses, especially those in the clinical research setting, must learn new terminology and concepts relevant to this new treatment approach in order to effectively translate the information to patients.