Immunotherapy for solid tumors--a review for surgeons.

Immunotherapy has evolved considerably in the last decade and is becoming an integral component of the armamentarium for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors. It is important for clinicians, especially surgeons, to understand the basic principles of novel immunotherapies and the immune system. This review summarizes the evolution of the most relevant immunotherapies, their mechanisms of action, the data supporting their clinical use, and integration of immunotherapy into multidisciplinary management of solid tumors. This review should serve as a primer for clinicians and surgeons to understand the rapidly evolving field of immunotherapy.