Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach in Gastric Cancer: In Memory of My Close Friend Stefan Lazarov, Who Suffered from Gastric Cancer and Was Cured with CIK

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is suitable for immunotherapy because 80% of it display microsatellite and chromosomal instability, some mutations and DNA hypermethylation. Therefore, GC is more immunogenic. The immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, adoptive cell therapy and checkpoint inhibition are discussed. The commonly used monoclonal antibodies are Trastuzumab targeting HER2 and Bevacizumab suppressing VEGF and tumor angiogenesis. Treatment with tumor-specific T cells is called adoptive cell therapy. There is experience with the application of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK). This review discusses the therapy with innate immune cells with anti-tumor activity such as dendritic cells and NK cells. The checkpoint inhibition was also reviewed. In conclusion, it could be stated that the immunotherapy of GC has the potential to provide a more favorable outcome to patients with GC, but it also have some limitations which need to be considered.