The growth of new lymphatic vessels (lymphangiogenesis) in tumors is an integral step in the metastatic spread of tumor cells, first to the sentinel lymphnodes that surround the tumor and then elsewhere in the body. Currently, no selective agents designed to prevent lymphatic vessel growth have been approved for clinical use, and there is an important potential clinical niche for antilymphangio...

Therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors have become part of standard tumor therapy for most forms of cancer within the last 7 years. However, it is increasingly recognized that the efficacy of such therapies is limited and transient. In fact, the limited clinical efficacy of established antiangiogenic tumor therapies has raised the concern that the moderate gain...

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer of the pleura. There is an established correlation between asbestos exposure and MPM. Despite the ban of asbestos, MPM incidence is still expected to rise because of the very long lag-times between exposure and diagnosis. However, MPM remains a universally fatal cancer with median survival from diagnosis being only 9-12 months. We described a 60-...

The uptake of Photofrin by murine peritoneal macrophages in vivo and in vitro was examined. Cellular Photofrin content was measured either by performing a fluorometric assay or by using )4C-labeled drug. For comparison, the uptake of Photofrin by murine SCCVII tumor cells (squamous cell carcinoma) was also examined under the same conditions. The data demonstrate that macrophages have a much gre...

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is considered the most malignant of primary brain cancers with only about 12% of patients living beyond 36 months (long-term survivors).1,2 GBM is heterogeneous in cellular composition consisting of tumor stem cells, mesenchymal cells, and host stromal cells.3-6 In addition to the neoplastic cell populations, tumorassociated macrophage...

This article reviews the current state of the design, development, and clinical applications of therapeutic cancer vaccines. The numerous previous failures of cancer vaccines may be attributed to the fact that not all vaccines are created equal (there has been a clear evolution in vaccine design) and/or to issues in clinical trial design and patient population. This article covers the diversity...

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common human kidney cancer, is frequently infiltrated with tumorassociated macrophages (TAM) that can promote malignant progression. Here, we show that TAMs isolated from human RCC produce substantial amounts of the proinflammatory chemokine CCL2 and immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, in addition to enhanced eicosanoid production via an activated 15-lipoxygen...

Although the function of vascular endothelial growth factor in the induction of tumor angiogenesis is well understood, the role of a second group of angiogenic factors, the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), remains elusive. We used a recombinant adenovirus expressing soluble FGF receptor (AdsFGFR) to interfere with FGF function in tumor angiogenesis. AdsFGFR repressed endothelial cell prolifera...

D uring the past five to ten years, major advances have increased the understanding of the biologic properties of lung cancer. Progress has been made in areas which include the role ofautocrine growth factors and their receptors in the pathogenesis oflung cancer,’ an understanding of the heterogeneity that exists within lung tumors with respect to their biologic properties, and a better underst...

Dendritic cells (DCs) phagocytose apoptotic influenza-infected monocytes and cross-present influenza antigen to CD8 T cells, generating a specific CTL response. We investigated whether apoptotic melanoma cells, presented by this mechanism, can lead to CTL responses to tumorassociated antigens and melanoma cells. Apoptotic HLA-A2 MEL-397 melanoma cells were internalized by HLA-A2 immature monocy...