About this Research Topic
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 focus on cancer immunotherapy and small molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors. Articles on the diverse cancer immunology and technologies involved in cancer therapeutics are also welcome.
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.
Keywords: Immunotherapy, cancer therapeutics, immune cells, APCs, immune checkpoints, small molecules, novel technologies, pre-clinical studies, clinical trials
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