Clinical and prognostic importance of expression of epidermal growth factor receptors in non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Pilot study of a novel combination of two therapeutic vaccines in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients

Cancer vaccines contain tumor antigens in a pro-inflammatory context with the purpose to generate potent antitumor immune responses. However, tumor cells develop different immunosuppressive mechanisms that limit the effectiveness of an anticancer immune response. Therefore, therapeutic vaccine treatment alone is usually not sufficient to generate tumor regression or survival improvement, especially in the advanced disease scenario in which most clinical studies have been conducted. Combining cancer vaccines with different anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other immunotherapeutic agents has had different levels of success. However, the combination of cancer vaccines with different mechanisms of action has not been explored in clinical trials. To address this issue, the current review summarizes the main clinical and immunological results obtained with two different therapeutic vaccines used in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients, inducing an immune response against epidermal growth factor (CIMAvax-EGF) and NGcGM3 ganglioside (racotumomab). We also discuss preliminary findings obtained in a trial of combination of these two vaccines and future challenges with these therapies.

Molecular markers of tumors

The main biologically significant molecular markers of human tumors are discussed on the basis of modern published data and author's findings of many-year studies: steroid hormone receptors, growth factors and underlying signal proteins, tumor-associated proteases, and angiogenesis markers. Methodological aspects, progress in preclinical studies, international recommendations on the use of these parameters for prediction of the disease course and prescription of effective therapy are analyzed. Latest data on the potentialities and limitations of modern highly productive technologies (microchips) as an alternative to studies of individual molecular markers are presented.