Current Status of Immunotherapy,

Abstract

Immunomodulators are a group of drugs which alter immune function. These agents first became of interest for clinical use in patients bearing malignant disease, since it was felt they could stimulate resistance to the growth of cancer. However, during the past decade, there has been an increasing awareness that they may be of more benefit for the prevention of infection. In fact, numerous agents are now available which clearly stimulate host resistance against infection in experimental animals. The primary beneficial effects of such agents may be in the immunodepressed type of immunocompromised host, such as may occur with malnutrition, infection, severe trauma, burns and in the aged. These conditions except for altered nutrition and extreme old age, are often associated with chronic complement activation triggered by the presence of infection or devitalized tissues.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 21, 1983
Accession Number
ADP004424

Entities

People

  • J. W. Alexander

Organizations

  • University of Cincinnati

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Infections And Mycoses
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Immune System Phenomena
  • Immunomodulation
  • Immunotherapy
  • Infection
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Malnutrition
  • Nutrition
  • Resistance
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Cancer Biotech