Immunotherapy of leukaemias: Present status and future prospects

Despite the lack of knowledge about its mode of action, immunotherapy of leukaemia continues to be a major challenge for physicians and experimental oncologists. Basic research should be aimed at defining leukaemia-associated antigens in humans and developing test systems for the detection of immune responses against leukaemia. Clinical trials are only valid when designed in a strictly randomized controlled fashion. Whether we can expect further advances in the field of immunotherapy will ultimately depend on sound scepticism as well as on new and unconventional ideas of the investigator.