This comprehensive reference source will benefit all transplant specialists working with pharmacologic and biologic agents that modulate the immune system. Compiled by a team of world-renowned editors and contributors covering the fields of transplantation, nephrology, pharmacology, and immunology, the book covers all anti-rejection drugs according to a set template and includes the efficacy of each for specific diseases.

An authoritative collection of optimal techniques for producing and characterizing the immunologically active cells and effector molecules now gaining wide use in the clinical treatment of patients. Taking advantage of the latest technologies, the authors present readily reproducible experimental protocols for the study of dendritic cells, T cells, monoclonal antibodies, and bone marrow transplantation. The emphasis is on preclinicical and clinical applications and on the progress of selected approaches in clinical trials. Additional chapters cover the molecular definition of target antigens, mathematical modeling approaches to immunotherapy, and the utilization of regulatory T cells. The protocols make it possible to study the adoptive transfer of tailored antigen-specific immune cells and to improve the clinical application of adoptive immunotherapy.

This important reference offers a comprehensive review of the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) or -tumor (GVT) effect following allogeneic stem cell transplantation and lymphocyte transfusion, covering a wide range of topics from alloimmune responses to clinical applications of GVL, and providing the basics to understand the mechanisms of the GVL effect while demonstrating methods that use the GVL effect to cure a greater number of cancer patients. Presents preliminary data supporting the idea that allogeneic cell therapy can be used not only for the treatment of leukemia but also for metastatic solid tumors! Written by over 40 world renowned experts in the field and containing more than 1450 references for in-depth exploration of the subject, Allogeneic Immunotherapy for Malignant Diseases investigates the capacity of the donor-and the host-to destroy residual leukemia cells by allogeneic immune reaction determines how to direct immune reactions against hematopoietic malignancies safely reveals which other malignant conditions may be responsive to allogeneic-mediated graft-versus-tumor reactions covers the mechanisms that contribute to the development of responses to minor histocompatibility complex (mHC) molecules focuses on the biology of effector cells and their role in mediating GVL reactions in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) summarizes the putative impact of human mHag on the GVL effect in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) addresses the potential and limitations of oncogene-based immunotherapy examines ways to isolate and control the GVL component of allograft immunity discusses efforts to develop specific anti-leukemic T-cell immunotherapy and more! Attributing the curative effect of allogeneic stem cell transplantation to the GVL or GVT effect, Allogeneic Immunotherapy for Malignant Diseases is an indispensable reference for hematologists, clinical oncologists, immunologists and researchers in the fields of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, internists, residents, and medical school students in these disciplines.

Current heart failure therapeutics affects symptoms without appreciably reducing the mortality rate of 50% in five years -- suggesting a failure in treating the underlying mechanism. This book proposes a new mechanism for heart failure; immune mediated cardiac remodelling for cardiac dysfunction. The outstanding editor team of two internationally recognized immunologists -- Ronald Watson, who has studied heart disease in immune dysfunction for a decade and has a patent for an immunotherapy of heart disease by immune regulation, and Douglas Larson, whose experience in cardiac transplantation immunology has provided the foundation for research into novel therapeutics for heart failure and hypertension – makes Immune Dysfunction and Immunotherapy in Heart Disease the definitive reference to the state of the science in this area. The four parts of the book address: Immune Dysfunction Leading to Heart Disease: Induction by Physiological Changes Immune Dysfunction Promoting CVD: Induction by Transplantation Drugs Immune Dysfunction Leading to Heart Dysfunction: Induction or Prevention by Cardiotherapeutic Drugs Immune Dysfunction Leading to Heart Disease: Induction by Pathogens Both researchers and practitioners will find this authoritative volume an excellent source of information on novel immune targeted therapeutics.

Recent advances in understanding of fundamental immunology have created new insights into the dynamic interactions between tumors and the immune system. This includes new understanding of T- and B-cell interaction, immune inhibitory mechanisms including the biology of T regulatory cells, myeloid suppressor cells, and dendritic cell subsets. Enhanced understanding of mechanisms underlying T-cell anergy such as arginine deprivation, immunosuppressive cytokines, defective innate and interferon response pathways, and NKG2D downregulation have all provided new insight into suppression of anti-tumor immunity and tumor evasion. In addition to emerging understanding of tumor evasion, new immune targets such as CTLA4 blockade, NK stimulatory receptors, manipulation of the antigen processing and presentation, cytokine and costimulatory responses all provide new possibilities for enhancing anti-tumor immunity even in tumors previously felt to be resistant to immune attack. Several of these strategies have already been realized in the clinic. The volume will explore evolving paradigms in antigen presentation, dendritic cell biology, the innate response and immunosuppressive mechanisms, and emerging strategies for manipulation of the immune system for therapeutic benefit that have realized success in neuroblastoma, leukemia, melanoma, lung cancer, and allogeneic transplantation. Early successes as well as failures will be highlighted to provide a snapshot of the state of clinical immunotherapy with an eye to future possibilities such as combination therapies, adoptive T-cell transfer, and the retargeting of immune cells via T-cell receptor engineering.

This is another attempt of InTechOpen to continue the dissemination of international knowledge and experience in the field of immunology. The present book includes a number of modern concepts of specialists and experts in the field of immunotherapy, covering the major topics and analyzing the history, current stage, and future ideas of application of modern immunomodulation. It is always a benefit, but also a compliment, to gather a team of internationally distinguished authors and to motivate them to reveal their expertise for the benefit of medical science and health practice. On behalf of all readers, immunologists, immunogeneticists, biologists, oncologists, microbiologists, virologists, hematologists, chemotherapists, health-care experts, as well as students and medical specialists, also on my personal behalf, I would like to extend my gratitude and highest appreciation to InTechOpen for giving me the unique chance to be the editor of this exclusive book.

Expert bench and clinical scientists join forces to concurrently review both the state-of-the-art in tumor immunology and its clinical translation into promising practical treatments. The authors explain in each chapter the scientific basis behind such therapeutic agents as monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, vaccines, and T-cells, and illustrate their clinical manipulation to combat cancer. Additional chapters address statistical analysis-both of clinical trials and assay evaluations-methods for the discovery of antigens, adoptive T cell therapy, and adaptive and innate immunity. The challenges in clinical trial design, the need for biomarkers of response-such as novel imaging techniques and immunologic monitoring-and the new advances and directions in cancer immunotherapy are also fully examined.