Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Due to its overexpression in the majority of HCCs, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) represents one of the most useful markers for hepatocarcinomas and for monitoring patients' response to therapy. Although it was earlier reported that AFP has immunosuppressive properties, it has been recently demonstrated that AFP induces spontaneous T and B cells responses in HCC patients. The characterization of AFP-immunogenic epitopes gives the opportunity to design AFP-based cancer vaccines for human HCC. The activity of AFP-based vaccines has been investigated in HCC mouse models in order to develop novel strategies to treat patients with HCC. This review will discuss the rationale for using the AFP-based vaccination strategy and recent results corroborating the usefulness of AFP vaccines as a potential tool for cancer therapy
Keywords: Alpha fetoprotein, cancer vaccine, immune response, peptide, tumor marker, oncofetal protein, phenylbutazone, streptomycin, anilinonaphthaline sulfate, immunoregulatory agent, immunosuppression, immune dysfunction, apoptosis, neovascularization, neoplastic growth
Current Molecular Medicine
Title: Alpha Fetoprotein is More than a Hepatocellular Cancer Biomarker: From Spontaneous Immune Response in Cancer Patients to the Development of an AFP-Based Cancer Vaccine
Volume: 11 Issue: 7
Author(s): R. Bei and G.J. Mizejewski
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alpha fetoprotein, cancer vaccine, immune response, peptide, tumor marker, oncofetal protein, phenylbutazone, streptomycin, anilinonaphthaline sulfate, immunoregulatory agent, immunosuppression, immune dysfunction, apoptosis, neovascularization, neoplastic growth
Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Due to its overexpression in the majority of HCCs, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) represents one of the most useful markers for hepatocarcinomas and for monitoring patients' response to therapy. Although it was earlier reported that AFP has immunosuppressive properties, it has been recently demonstrated that AFP induces spontaneous T and B cells responses in HCC patients. The characterization of AFP-immunogenic epitopes gives the opportunity to design AFP-based cancer vaccines for human HCC. The activity of AFP-based vaccines has been investigated in HCC mouse models in order to develop novel strategies to treat patients with HCC. This review will discuss the rationale for using the AFP-based vaccination strategy and recent results corroborating the usefulness of AFP vaccines as a potential tool for cancer therapy
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Bei R. and Mizejewski G.J., Alpha Fetoprotein is More than a Hepatocellular Cancer Biomarker: From Spontaneous Immune Response in Cancer Patients to the Development of an AFP-Based Cancer Vaccine, Current Molecular Medicine 2011; 11 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652411800615162
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652411800615162 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Transcatheter Embolization Therapy in Liver Cancer
Recent Patents on Medical Imaging Editorial: The Role of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy: A Review
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Anesthesia Issues in Central Nervous System Disorders
Current Aging Science Ototoxicity: Mechanisms of Cochlear Impairment and its Prevention
Current Medicinal Chemistry Transcriptional Regulation of mPGES1 in Cancer: An Alternative Approach to Drug Discovery?
Current Drug Targets Impaired Expression and Function of Cancer-Related Enzymes by Anthocyans: An Update
Current Enzyme Inhibition Hepatic Effects of Duloxetine-I: Non-Clinical and Clinical Trial Data
Current Drug Safety The Effect of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone on Apoptosis and Autophagy in Traumatic Brain Injury
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Pharmacokinetic Markers of 5-Fluorouracil Toxicity in Clinical Trials and Real World
Clinical Cancer Drugs Treatment Outcome of Three Female Adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder
Adolescent Psychiatry Assessment of the Mitotic Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) as the Target of Anticancer Therapies
Current Cancer Drug Targets Potential Utility of Mycobacterium w Vaccine in Control of Tuberculosis
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Synthesis and Applications of Bisheterocyclic Compounds
Current Organic Synthesis Recent Advances in CRISPR/Cas9 Directed Base Editing
Current Gene Therapy p42.3: An Abductor of Cell Cycle
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Sphingolipid Metabolism and Leukemia: A Potential for Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Posaconazole: A New Antifungal Weapon
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials HuR as Therapeutic Target in Cancer: What the Future Holds
Current Medicinal Chemistry DYRK1A Kinase Inhibitors with Emphasis on Cancer
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry