Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy

Guest Edited by: Prof. Mauro Castelli¹, Prof. Gabriella D’Orazi² & Dr. Anand Rotte³ 

^{1 - Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research
2 - Department of Medical Sciences, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Chieti, Italy
3 - Clinical & Regulatory Affairs, NevroCorp, Redwood City, CA, USA}

Drugs acting by stimulating the immune responses have been immensely successful in the treatment of cancer. Several classes of immunotherapeutics including cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b), monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoints, autologous dendritic cells expressing tumor antigen, genetically engineered oncolytic viruses, and T-cells engineered to expressed chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T cells), have been approved for multiple cancer subtypes, including both solid tumors, as well as hematological cancers. Durable response rates are considered as the greatest advantages of immunotherapy but its success is overshadowed by low response rates. Insufficient immune activation and involvement of multiple immunosuppressive pathways are thought to be the reasons for treatment failure in non-responding patients. To increase the response rates, a combination of immunotherapeutics has been suggested. Research is ongoing to design better and safer combinations by altering dosage or sequence of administration of approved drugs, or by developing new drugs and their combinations.

The purpose of this thematic series, published in Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, is to summarize some of the highlights of cancer immunotherapy that may provide new opportunities for personalized anti-cancer therapy as well as presenting challenges on the road to the clinic. 

Submission to this series is now closed.