Cancer therapy : differentiation, immunomodulation and angiogenesis

Provided here is a comprehensive examination of the basic and clinical conditions of three innovative and promising approaches to cancer therapy, which may support or even substitute chemotherapy: differentiation, immunomodulation and inhibition of angiogenesis. Differentiation should normalize neoplastic cells and make them compatible with the host. Its feasibility with retinoids, interferons and chemotherapeutic or other agents is discussed. Modulation by biological agents, cytotoxic effector cells and drugs is considered in attempts to boost endogenous antitumour defenses and/or to render neoplastic cells more susceptible to the immune attack of the host. Finally, the important aspect of interfering with tumour blood vessel development and function is taken into account. Considering the importance of chemotherapy to cancer treatment, the relationship between the aforementioned approaches and chemotherapeutic agents and chemoresistance is treated in detail.