Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)
Other ways to rouse immunity against cancer: high-dose interleukin-2, a cell vaccine for prostate cancer and an oncolytic herpesvirus.
What they are
A mixed group that boosts antitumour immunity without being a checkpoint inhibitor, CAR T cell or bispecific: the cytokine aldesleukin (recombinant IL-2) for metastatic melanoma and kidney cancer; sipuleucel-T, an autologous cell vaccine against prostatic acid phosphatase for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer; and talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), a modified herpes simplex virus injected into melanoma lesions.
Mechanism of action
Each acts differently: IL-2 drives the proliferation and activation of T cells and NK cells; sipuleucel-T loads the patient's antigen-presenting cells with a PAP-GM-CSF fusion protein so they prime T cells against PAP; T-VEC replicates in tumour cells, bursts them and releases tumour antigens together with GM-CSF, which helps start an immune response against the tumour.
Target: The immune system (IL-2 receptor on T and NK cells, antigen-presenting cells, tumour cells infected by an oncolytic virus)
Drugs in this class
- AldesleukinRecombinant interleukin-2 given at high dose in hospital for metastatic kidney cancer and melanoma. Hallmark danger…Interleukin-2 receptor on T cells and NK cells
- Sipuleucel-TA personalised cell vaccine for advanced prostate cancer: the patient's own immune cells are trained against prostatic…Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), an antigen of most prostate cancers
- Talimogene laherparepvecA modified herpes simplex virus injected into melanoma lesions: it bursts tumour cells and makes GM-CSF to stir an…Melanoma cells (infected and lysed by an engineered herpes simplex virus type 1)
Others in the class
- BCG intravesical
- lifileucel
- nadofaragene firadenovec
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What is the dominant toxicity of high-dose aldesleukin?
Capillary leak syndrome: fluid leaves the vessels, causing hypotension, oedema and kidney failure.
Against which antigen is sipuleucel-T directed?
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP).
What extra gene does talimogene laherparepvec carry?
The gene for GM-CSF, which helps start an antitumour immune response.
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Aldesleukin: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); Talimogene Laherparepvec Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); Sipuleucel-T Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.