Cancer is a multifactorial chronic disease, in which several factors contribute to its pathogenesis and progression. Our immune system is designed to continuously identify and destroy tumor or aberrant cells. However, a compromised immune system has been associated with the development of cancer. In such immune state, cancer cells often develop the ability to hide from the immune surveillance network and adopt intelligent survival tactics which are continuously developing. Therefore, researchers are focusing on boosting anti-tumor immunity by developing novel cancer immunotherapies. Adoptive cell-based cancer therapies are being used, including in vitro expansion and activation of immune effector cells and transfer to the patients. Tumor cells can be eliminated either by directly targeting the tumor cells or by enhancing various functions of the immune system. Other than CD8+ and NK cell-based cytotoxic cancer cell killing, there are antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic, macrophages, B cells, and γδ T cells, which aggressively participate in the activation of anti-tumor immune response against many different cancers (myeloma, lymphoma, colorectal, melanoma, breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancers).
The different types of cancers are all known to behave differently, following various metabolic pathways during their progression. Generally, a single treatment regimen is not sufficient to treat aggressive cancers. Thus, the treatment of later-stage and aggressive cancer is extremely challenging and requires the development of novel personalized technologies and continuous advancement in scientific procedures. Recent developments in cancer treatments include the development of novel molecules targeting ‘immune checkpoints’ such as monoclonal antibodies against cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (anti-CTLA-4 Abs), programmed death 1 (PD-1) B7 ligands, and Imatinib, exhibiting the critical involvement of the immune system in limiting the disease. Other than these chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), technologies associated with immune effector cells are considered promising molecular targets in the arsenal of immune-based cancer therapeutics. Programmed death 1 ligand (PDL-1) and PD-1 complex can inhibit TCR and CD28 signaling, which reduces the anti-tumor ability and functioning of tumor-specific T cells. Use of new molecules that can inhibit PD-1 and PDL-1 axis may contribute to the activation of cytotoxic T cells.
The use of combinational therapeutics as a new approach to cancer treatment has already been established. Numerous small immune or synthetic molecules can participate in the inhibition of immune-suppressing cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or Treg cells) or can be used as inhibitors for immune checkpoint proteins. However, pre-clinical testing of these molecules is necessary to analyze their safety and efficacy before use in human clinical trials. Combination cancer therapy, which includes immune cells and novel small molecules, may produce synergistic outcomes especially enhancing effector responses of T cells specific for tumors as well as the development of long-lived T cell surveillance.
This Research Topic will be focusing on cancer immunotherapy, and small molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors. Articles on the diverse cancer immunology and technologies involved in cancer therapeutics are also welcome.
Cancer is a multifactorial chronic disease, in which several factors contribute to its pathogenesis and progression. Our immune system is designed to continuously identify and destroy tumor or aberrant cells. However, a compromised immune system has been associated with the development of cancer. In such immune state, cancer cells often develop the ability to hide from the immune surveillance network and adopt intelligent survival tactics which are continuously developing. Therefore, researchers are focusing on boosting anti-tumor immunity by developing novel cancer immunotherapies. Adoptive cell-based cancer therapies are being used, including in vitro expansion and activation of immune effector cells and transfer to the patients. Tumor cells can be eliminated either by directly targeting the tumor cells or by enhancing various functions of the immune system. Other than CD8+ and NK cell-based cytotoxic cancer cell killing, there are antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic, macrophages, B cells, and γδ T cells, which aggressively participate in the activation of anti-tumor immune response against many different cancers (myeloma, lymphoma, colorectal, melanoma, breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancers).
The different types of cancers are all known to behave differently, following various metabolic pathways during their progression. Generally, a single treatment regimen is not sufficient to treat aggressive cancers. Thus, the treatment of later-stage and aggressive cancer is extremely challenging and requires the development of novel personalized technologies and continuous advancement in scientific procedures. Recent developments in cancer treatments include the development of novel molecules targeting ‘immune checkpoints’ such as monoclonal antibodies against cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (anti-CTLA-4 Abs), programmed death 1 (PD-1) B7 ligands, and Imatinib, exhibiting the critical involvement of the immune system in limiting the disease. Other than these chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), technologies associated with immune effector cells are considered promising molecular targets in the arsenal of immune-based cancer therapeutics. Programmed death 1 ligand (PDL-1) and PD-1 complex can inhibit TCR and CD28 signaling, which reduces the anti-tumor ability and functioning of tumor-specific T cells. Use of new molecules that can inhibit PD-1 and PDL-1 axis may contribute to the activation of cytotoxic T cells.
The use of combinational therapeutics as a new approach to cancer treatment has already been established. Numerous small immune or synthetic molecules can participate in the inhibition of immune-suppressing cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or Treg cells) or can be used as inhibitors for immune checkpoint proteins. However, pre-clinical testing of these molecules is necessary to analyze their safety and efficacy before use in human clinical trials. Combination cancer therapy, which includes immune cells and novel small molecules, may produce synergistic outcomes especially enhancing effector responses of T cells specific for tumors as well as the development of long-lived T cell surveillance.
This Research Topic will be focusing on cancer immunotherapy, and small molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors. Articles on the diverse cancer immunology and technologies involved in cancer therapeutics are also welcome.