Immunopharmacology of the immunotherapy of cancer, infection, and autoimmunity.

The current status and future prospects of the immunotherapy of cancer, infection, and autoimmunity are reviewed briefly. Progress in treating the immunodeficiency of cancer with thymic hormones and drugs such as levamisole and lentinan has produced some degree of remission stabilization. Interferon, interleukin II, and LAK cells have inhibited active, progressive cancer. New approaches with monoclonal antibodies, immunotoxins, tumor necrosis factors, and so on are under rapid development. Future prospects focus on combined approaches yielding synergy. Treatment of infections in animals and man either prophylactically or therapeutically, with thymic hormones, interferons, and thymomimetic drugs such as levamisole and isoprinosine, demonstrate the efficacy of this approach. The use of these agents in conjunction with antimicrobial therapy in immunosuppressed hosts is warranted. In immunodeficiency associated with AIDS virus infection, interleukin II, thymic hormones, isoprinosine, and imuthiol have shown effect in partially restoring immune function, although with little clinical benefit. Their use with antiviral therapy is advocated. Finally, thymic hormones, isoprinosine, levamisole, and other sulfur-containing compounds have ameliorated murine and human autoimmune disease presumably through effects in improving cellular immune function. Continued development of this type of therapy is warranted. The continued progress of immunopharmacology as the science of immunotherapy portends the future successful development of many therapeutic approaches to these diseases.