Specific immune therapies for cancer in childhood

Background. Immunotherapy of cancer is based on the concept that protective immune responses against tumors can be specifically enhanced by therapeutic measures to result in tumor rejection. Tumor-specific activation of the immune system can be achieved by active immunization. Alternatively, antitumor immune responses can be reconstituted by administration of ex vivo expanded immune effector cells or antitumor antibodies. Pediatric tumors. The use of immunotherapeutic strategies has a potential for efficiently supplementing standard treatment of many pediatric tumors. In this overview, current concepts for the mechanisms of antitumor immunity as well as their potential manipulation by therapeutic measures are presented and discussed in the context of pediatric oncology.