Immunologic Therapies for Gastrointestinal Cancers

The treatment of solid tumors has shown a dramatic change in recent years. This revolution has come from an improved understanding of the mechanisms of tumor growth and the relationship of cancers to their microenvironments. As part of this revolutoin, we have had a dramatic increase in our understanding of the immune system and the role it could play in the management of cancers. This article reviews the current data supporting the use of cancer immunologic therapies for gastrointestinal tract cancers. The scope is focused on the variety of approaches that have been used, citing the clinical data that have been obtained and reviewing future trials.