Immunologische ansatze zur therapie von plattenepithel-karzinomen des kopf-hals-bereiches (HNSCC)

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region are characterised by an acute or chronically inflamed infiltrate. Nevertheless, it appears that for various reasons this infiltrate cannot eliminate the tumour cells, for instance due to immunosuppressive components produced by the tumour. While looking for new therapeutic strategies it should obviously be attempted to activate this infiltrate by means of appropriate immunomodulators. We report on three therapeutic approaches aiming at such activation while making use of the human immune system. The methods utilise the techniques of in vivo and ex vivo gene transfer as well as the use of bispecific antibodies. Preclinical studies have clearly pointed out so far that there is an efficient stimulation of the immune system resulting in a specific lysis of tumour cells by means of T lymphocytes and accessory cells. This led us to evolve two clinical phase I studies: 1. In-vivo gene therapy with human interleukin- 2 plasmides by means of liposome-mediated gene transfer. 2. Immunotherapy with bispecific antibodies. Both studies are suitable for demonstrating their aim, namely, to test whether the medication is well tolerated. Although these efforts have only just begun, alternative possibilities of treatment should also be investigated. New strategies for the benefit of patients suffering from malignomas must be tested via future multicentric phase II studies irrespective of checking on the results obtained in the phase I studies.