ABSTRACT
Antibodies can be made to many structures in the variable region associated with the light chain, heavy chain, or a combination of both chains. Immunoglobulin molecules possess variable regions specific for antigen recognition. The idea of anti-Ids as vaccines against infectious disease has been derived from the successful preparation and characterization of anti-Id antibodies able to mimic bacterial and viral antigens. Anti-Id responses have been implicated in the induction of anti-tumor immunity to colorectal cancer. Potential heterologous and homologous anti-Id vaccines may be replaced by synthetic peptide antigens. The anti-Id approach needs to be compared to other tumor therapies, both established and experimental. A realistic assessment of anti-Id therapy predicts that complete remissions in patients with advanced disease will be unlikely. Additional patients have been treated with individually tailored anti-Id antibodies of varying antibody subclasses. Immunization with anti-Id antibodies represents a novel new approach to active immunotherapy.
