Cancer is a multifactorial chronic disease, with its pathogenesis and progression influenced by various factors. The immune system plays a crucial role in identifying and destroying tumors or aberrant cells, yet a compromised immune system can facilitate cancer development. In such scenarios, cancer cells often evade immune surveillance and adopt sophisticated survival strategies. This has led researchers to focus on enhancing anti-tumor immunity through novel cancer immunotherapies. Current approaches include adoptive cell-based therapies, which involve the in vitro expansion and activation of immune effector cells for patient transfer. These therapies aim to eliminate tumor cells either by direct targeting or by boosting immune system functions. Recent studies have highlighted the role of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) like dendritic cells, macrophages, B cells, and ?d T cells in activating anti-tumor responses across various cancers, including myeloma, lymphoma, and melanoma. Despite these advances, aggressive cancers remain challenging to treat, necessitating the development of personalized technologies and continuous scientific innovation. Recent breakthroughs include molecules targeting immune checkpoints, such as monoclonal antibodies against CTLA-4 and PD-1, and the promising use of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) technologies. However, gaps remain in understanding the full potential and safety of these therapies, particularly in combinational approaches.
This research topic aims to explore the potential of cancer immunotherapy and small molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors as combinational cancer therapeutics. The primary objective is to investigate how these therapies can be integrated to enhance anti-tumor immune responses, particularly focusing on the synergistic effects of combining immune cells with novel small molecules. Key questions include the efficacy of these combinations in pre-clinical settings, their safety profiles, and their potential to improve long-term T-cell surveillance and effector responses.
To gather further insights in the realm of combinational cancer therapeutics, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Mechanisms of immune evasion by cancer cells and strategies to counteract them.
- Advances in adoptive cell-based cancer therapies and their integration with small molecule inhibitors.
- The role of antigen-presenting cells in enhancing anti-tumor immune responses.
- Development and pre-clinical testing of novel immune checkpoint inhibitors.
- Synergistic effects of combining immune cells with small molecules in cancer treatment.
- Personalized approaches in cancer immunotherapy and their clinical implications.
- Safety and efficacy assessments of combinational therapies in pre-clinical and clinical trials.
This Research Topic is the second volume of the “Community Series in Immunotherapy and Small Molecule Inhibitors as Combinational Cancer Therapeutics”. Please see the first volume
here.