Cellular immunotherapy of cancer.

Recent developments in the understanding of antigen processing and presentation and T-cell receptor recognition of antigens have immediate applications to the cellular immunotherapy of cancer. The specific antigens and processed peptide sequences responsible for T-cell recognition of some human melanomas have recently been identified. T cells with antitumor activity are undergoing genetic modification to improve their function and clinical efficacy. In addition, novel T-cell constructs are being created with chimeric T-cell receptors that confer new tumor reactivities to these lymphocytes. Current understanding of the basic processes involved in the immune recognition and destruction of tumors is allowing the manipulation of these processes to enhance experimental clinical therapies.