adjuvanty

Adjuvants are substances that enhance or modify the body's immune response to an antigen. In vaccinology, adjuvants are added to vaccines to improve immunogenicity, broaden the response, reduce the amount of antigen required, and influence the quality of immunity.

In immunology, common adjuvants include aluminum salts (alum), emulsions such as MF59 and AS03, liposomes, saponins such as QS-21, and toll-like receptor agonists like CpG motifs or MPL. Mechanisms include creating a local inflammatory milieu, recruiting antigen-presenting cells, promoting antigen uptake, and triggering innate immune receptors to shape adaptive responses. Adverse effects are typically local injection-site reactions and, less commonly, fever or malaise.

In oncology, adjuvant therapy refers to additional treatment given after primary therapy (usually surgical resection) to eradicate residual disease and reduce recurrence. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy is standard for several cancers (breast, colorectal, melanoma, etc.) and may include hormonal or targeted therapies. The goal is to improve disease-free and overall survival; timing is critical and differs from neoadjuvant therapy, which is given before the main treatment.

Risks include toxicity from systemic therapy and potential overtreatment; patient selection and risk stratification are essential. The field continues to develop with immunotherapy and precision medicine, aiming to maximize benefit while minimizing harm.