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Immunotherapy in Translational Cancer Research

 

EDITED BY

 

Laurence J. N. Cooper, MD, PhD

Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, MD, PhD

Judy Moyes, MB, BChir, FRCP(C), FRCPCH

Sabitha Prabhakaran, PhD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Editors

Laurence J. N. Cooper
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Elizabeth A. Mittendorf
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Judy Moyes
Pediatrics Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Sabitha Prabhakaran
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Contributors

Gheath Alatrash
Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Miles C. Andrews
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Paul M. Armistead
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Lohith S. Bachegowda
Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX, USA

Alexandra P. Cadena
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Richard E. Champlin
Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX, USA

Alexandria P. Cogdill
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Saranya Chumsri
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA

Taylor R. Cushman
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Sandra Demaria
Radiation Oncology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

Adi Diab
Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Mary L. Disis
Tumor Vaccine Group, Center for Translational Medicine in Women’s Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Andrew D. Fesnak
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Jennifer A. Foltz
Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

Vidya Gopalakrishnan
Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

William R. Gwin
Tumor Vaccine Group, Center for Translational Medicine in Women’s Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Garth S. HerbertDepartment of Surgery, San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA

Dae won Kim
Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

Keith L. Knutson
Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA

Dean A. Lee
Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

Bruce L. Levine
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Crystal Mackall
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

Nicola J. Mason
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Jeffrey S. Miller
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Elizabeth A. Mittendorf
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston,TX, USA

Jeffrey J. Molldrem
Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Timothy Murray
Ludwig Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland

M. Kazim Panjwani
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

George E. PeoplesCancer Vaccine Development Program, San Antonio, TX, USA

Sabitha Prabhakaran
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Peter A. Prieto
Department of Surgery, Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA

Tracy A. Proverbs‐Singh
John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA

Jonathan E. Schoenhals
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston,TX, USA

Liora Schultz
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

Jonathan S. Serody
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Alexandra Snyder
Departments of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

Daniel E. Speiser
Ludwig Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland

Jyothishmathi Swaminathan
Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Eric Tran
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Center, Portland, OR, USA

Timothy J. VreelandDepartment of Surgery, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC, USA

Jennifer A. Wargo
Departments of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

James W. Welsh
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Jedd Wolchok
Swim Across America–Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory, Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

Cassian Yee
Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Introduction

We live and work in the age of immunotherapy. The modality is now firmly affixed to the triad of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. This book captures the translation of immunology into therapies. The migration of bench research to bedside experimentation has been largely driven by academia and amplified by industry; however, in the current age, there is equipoise between the not‐for‐profit and for‐profit enterprises regarding advancements in the human applications of immunotherapies.

The breadth of treatments reflects the complexity of the immune system itself. The coordinated response of the multiple components of an endogenous immune response has generated a portfolio of immunotherapy options that are reflected in the names of the chapters. Not all chapters, though, are created equally. Some immunotherapies are just beginning their human experimentation and some are seasoned and perhaps even seen as out of vogue. Nevertheless, as a whole, these components of immune‐based therapies provide patients with therapeutic optimism and some with therapeutic impact.

This book is a sum of its chapters and thus individual immunotherapies. What is not yet evident is how combinations of immune‐based therapies can be harnessed. This is undoubtedly needed in order to secure long‐term and complete treatment for the majority of malignancies, especially arising as solid tumors. The coordinated response of the endogenous immune system will be mirrored by the corradiated application of immunotherapies. However, that will be the topic of a future book. What is present and is remarkable, is that monotherapies based on harnessing the immune response have resulted in Lazarus‐type moments, are used to prevent cancer, and have provided responses in tumors that were previously considered untreatable.

Immunotherapy as presently wielded is a relatively blunt tool. Yet the immune system is built on precision. Academics and industry investigators are only beginning to understand how to sharpen the therapeutic edge of an applied immune response. The proving ground is the human experience as preclinical models by and large do not yield sufficient information regarding efficacy and toxicity. Thus, immunotherapy practitioners and patients alike are risk takers. Together, they will advance the clinical application of the immune system so that its complexity can be harnessed as an instrument to treat cancer on an individualized basis.

This is a good time to be studying immunotherapy, and we hope this book rewards your interest.