[Tumor rejection antigen and cancer immunotherapy].

Tumor rejection antigen (TRA) recognized by cytotoxic T cells (CTL) have been identified on several murine tumors and human malignant melanomas. By utilizing those peptides as tumor vaccine, a new immunotherapy will be anticipated. Cancer cell vaccine and adoptive transfer of CTL/TIL have been undertaken successfully. Moreover, recombinant protein of tumor rejection antigen and heat shock protein emerge as promissing molecules as tumor antigen. To augument rather weak immune response, cytokine and gene therapies have now begun to be done. Cytokines can be used by themselves and also genes of cytokines can be introduced into either tumor cells or CTL/TIL.