Journal of Blood & Lymph

Towards Possible Cure of Cancer by Immunotherapy of Minimal Residual Disease

Abstract

Shimon Slavin, Nadir Askenasy and Chaya Brodie

Based on predictive, preventive and personalized medicine (PPPM) strategy for treatment of cancer, immunotherapy and additional targeted anti-cancer modalities should be considered for cure of cancer at an early stage of the disease following successful conventional treatment. Alternatively, PPPM strategy should be applied at the stage of minimal residual disease (MRD) induced following successful re-induction of second or subsequent remission.
Fortunately, a stage of minimal residual disease can be accomplished in most patients with cancer following conventional treatment but in the absence of visible disease or lack of symptoms, additional treatment is usually denied. Considering PPPM using innovative and safe treatment focusing on immunotherapy should be considered for patients at risk because eradication of MRD can be accomplished whereas treatment of overt disease may no longer be possible. Similarly to the treatment of infectious diseases, the goal should be to recognize the high-risk cases upfront and treat MRD because residual malignant cells cannot be detected by available imaging technologies.
The take home message is that at the stage of minimal residual disease focusing on immunotherapy and other targeted anti-cancer modalities may be safe, successful and possibly the only way to cure cancer, or at least to better control tumor progression.