Marking the turn of the “immunotherapy” decade, Hegde and Chen outline critical avenues for innovation in cancer immunotherapy. More efficient early studies of combination therapies and understanding the linkage of synthetic (CAR-T, bispecific antibody) with endogenous immunity will be needed to balance efficacy and toxicity. Translatable preclinical models will inform more rational, flexible clinical trials with earlier assessment and defined regulatory endpoints. Novel biomarkers may indicate treatment response, tumor escape, and personalized options. Contextual factors, such as tissue location and accompanying steroids, must be considered.
Contributed by Alex Najibi
Cancer immunotherapy is a validated and critically important approach for treating patients with cancer. Given the vast research and clinical investigation efforts dedicated to advancing both endogenous and synthetic immunotherapy approaches, there is a need to focus on crucial questions and define roadblocks to the basic understanding and clinical progress. Here, we define ten key challenges facing cancer immunotherapy, which range from lack of confidence in translating pre-clinical findings to identifying optimal combinations of immune-based therapies for any given patient. Addressing these challenges will require the combined efforts of basic researchers and clinicians, and the focusing of resources to accelerate understanding of the complex interactions between cancer and the immune system and the development of improved treatment options for patients with cancer.
Author Info: (1) Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA. (2) IGM Biosciences, Mountain View, CA, USA. Electronic address: dschen@igmbio.com.
Author Info: (1) Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA. (2) IGM Biosciences, Mountain View, CA, USA. Electronic address: dschen@igmbio.com.
