Colorectal cancer vaccines.

BACKGROUND

Advances in molecular pathology have enabled a number of colorectal cancer antigens to be identified and characterized. The commonest investigated include 17-1A, 791Tgp72 and carcinoembryonic antigen. Vaccines have been developed that stimulate the immune system to target these antigens. This paper reviews current areas of research in this field.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Relevant articles were obtained on vaccines for colorectal cancer from Medline and the Bath Information Data System. A number of approaches are currently being evaluated in Phase I, II and III trials. These include anti-idiotypic antibody immunization, DNA vaccines, mucin and heat shock protein-based vaccines, oncogenes and viral vectors.

CONCLUSION

Evidence is accumulating to suggest that immune responses may be generated against colorectal cancer using these approaches. While the concept of vaccination against this malignancy is essentially experimental, surgeons should be aware of current advances.