Date of Award
2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Molecular Biology
Abstract
Tumor cells are notorious for their ability to escape immune surveillance, but developments in the understanding of the tumor microenvironment and how the immune system can be re-activated in tumors have had significant clinical impact. Commercially available and experimental methods such as adoptive cellular therapy, cytokine stimulation, and immune checkpoint blockade are promising immunotherapies for a variety of cancers, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, induction of persistent, long-term anti-tumor immunity after initial treatment is infamously difficult. as a result, scientists are searching for new approaches to improve established immunotherapies. by employing combination treatments or enhancing the functionality of cellular products prior to infusion, patients may experience better clinical outcomes through the development of more effective immunotherapies. This thesis reviews the function of the immune system in the tumor microenvironment and discusses how this knowledge is used within the field of tumor immunology to develop and enhance immunotherapy models.
Recommended Citation
Lenart, Natasha Malibu, "Tumor Immunology: Understanding the Immune System and Cancer to Enhance the Efficacy of Cancer Immunotherapies" (2020). Master's Theses. 4339.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_theses/4339
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2020 Natasha Malibu Lenart
