Proton therapy

Proton therapy has become a subject of considerable interest in the radiation oncology community and it is expected that there will be a substantial growth in proton treatment facilities during the next decade. I was asked to write a historical review of proton therapy based on my personal experiences, which have all occurred in the United States, so therefore I have a somewhat parochial point of view. Space requirements did not permit me to mention all of the existing proton therapy facilities or the names of all of those who have contributed to proton therapy.     

Anti-IgE therapy

IgE has a central role in the initiation of allergic hypersensitivity reactions. Pioneered by the development of humanized monoclonal antibodies directed against IgE, anti-IgE therapy represents an original approach to the treatment of allergic disease and has demonstrated promise in preventing the symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy. The primary mechanism of action of anti-IgE therapy is the reduction in serum levels of IgE and FcepsilonRI expression on mast cells and basophils.     

Gene therapy and biologic therapy with interleukin-4

For more than two decades, there has been a concerted effort to define the biology of, and develop the clinical applications for, cytokines that influence the immune system. However, intrinsic potency and toxicity have complicated application of cytokines as therapeutic agents when applied systemically. Indeed, one of the major characteristics of most cytokines is that they regulate immunity at a local or regional level, and systemic levels provided by most conventional schema fail to mimic the induction of an effective immune response. IL-4 has pleiotropic effects on immune cells of multiple lineages, endothelial cells and tumor cells. Accumulating data in pre-clinical studies demonstrate that sustained expression of IL-4 at the targeted organs or tissues may provide an effective means for therapy of variety of diseases including cancers and immunologic disorders. This review discusses biological properties and therapeutic applications of IL-4, particularly when it is delivered as a transgene in the settings of gene therapy.