A review.The notion that the immune system can prevent the emergence and growth of cancer is a century old.Despite considerable evidence in animal models that "cancer vaccines" induce effective immunol. responses against tumors, the development of efficacious vaccines to treat cancer in humans has been much slower and far less promising, In the past decade, however, several vaccine strategies have made considerable clin. advancement, renewing the interest and confidence that a human cancer vaccine will be successfully launched.This article highlights several vaccines that have advanced to later stages of clin. and com. development.Emphasis is on the development of vaccines using the cancer patient's own autologous antigen-presenting cells (APCs).Mature APCs play a pivotal role in initiating an immune response, especially T-cell mediated immunity, which is critical for the effective killing of tumor cells.Employing APCs in a vaccine to present tumor-associated antigens and stimulate cytotoxic T-cells will enhance the clin. efficacy of the cancer vaccine.As personalized therapeutic products, autologous APC vaccines pose interesting clin. development, regulatory approval, and com. manufacturing and distribution challenges.Strategies to address some of these challenges are discussed.