Categories of Cancer Vaccines Cancer vaccines are intended to induce T cells or other components of the immune system to recognize and vigorously attack malignant tissue.
Whole Cancer Cells	Inactivated cancer cells and their extracts can jump-start the immune system. Cancer cells engineered to secrete cytokines, such as IL-2 or GM-CSF, similarly heighten antitumor immunity. Cells designed to express co-stimulatory molecules, such as B-1, enhance the ability of T cells to recognize tumor cells.
Peptides	Tumor peptides, fragments of tumor proteins recognized by T cells, are injected alone or with immune-boosting adjuvants.
Proteins	Antigen-presenting cells take up injected tumor proteins and break them down into a range of peptide fragments recognized by T cells.
Dendritic Cells	These antigen-presenting cells are isolated from the blood, exposed to tumor peptides or engineered to produce tumor proteins and then reinjected.
Gangliosides	Humans can produce antibodies to these molecules, such as GM2, found on the surface of tumor cells. Clinical studies have shown that melanoma patients with GM2 antibodies have a better prognosis.
Heat-Shock Proteins	These cellular constituents ordinarily bind peptides. Injecting heat-shock proteins isolated from tumors rouses antitumor immunity in mice.
Viral and Bacterial Vectors	Genes coding for tumor antigens are incorporated into viral or bacterial genomes. When injected, these altered infectious agents draw immunity against themselves and the encoded antigens.
Nucleic Acids	DNA and RNA coding for tumor antigens prompt normal cells to begin producing these antigens.

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