Cytokine gene therapy has recently become a new prospective modality in the treatment of cancer. Active immunization with gene-modified tumour cells in experimental systems employs either live Vaccines at subthreshold, non-tumorigenic doses, or irradiated cytokine-producing vaccines. The effects exerted on tumour cells by the vaccine-produced cytokines are usually pleiomorphic, either direct (cytolysis, upregulation of MHC, TAA, or adhesion molecule expression, terminal differentiation) or indirect (recruitment, amplification and activation of APC, helper and defence effector cells, damage of the blood supply) or both. The aim of this article is to review and summarize recent results of the cytokine gene therapy in experimental tumour systems, as well as to discuss the prospects and limitations of this novel approach in the management of cancer patients. The review is primarily focused on the therapeutic vaccination; however, when relevant, the results obtained with preventive vaccination are also briefly discussed.

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