Vaccines versus immunotherapy: Overview of approaches in deciding between options

Abstract

This review compares the optimal use of vaccines vs. other forms of immunotherapy, which includes cytokines, such as IL-2, monoclonal antibodies, such as the ‘checkpoint inhibitors’, against CTLA-4 and PD-1.

The review includes both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines using a variety of technologies. It is already established that vaccines can be enhanced by other immunotherapies, such as cytokines (IL-2) and there is scope for combining both of these with the ‘checkpoint’ antibodies. Moreover, both can be enhanced with other modalities, such as radiotherapy, ablative therapy and both high and low dose chemotherapies.

Keywords:

• antibodies
• cytokines
• checkpoint inhibitors
• immunotherapy
• immune modulators
• therapeutic vaccines

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

The author is Chief and Principal Investigator on trials and on the Sicentific Advisory Board for Immodulon Therapeutics, as well as the Scientific Advisory Boards of Curevac and Bionorpharma. The author is also on the Scientific Advisory Board and receives research support from Celgene.

Funding

The author is supported by the Cancer Vaccine Institute (registered charity: 3884777), he has research support from Celgene and GW Pharma.