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Cancers
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Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research
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Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 11679

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sofia Genta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada
Interests: clinical and translational research; mechanisms of resistance to anticancer drugs; immunotherapy, non-invasive biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies have significantly improved the survival of patients affected by some of the deadliest tumors. Due to their established anticancer activity, these treatments currently represent one of the main therapeutic options in several oncological settings. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of cancer patients do not respond to immunotherapy. The incorporation of novel biomarkers and the implementation of adapted study designs specific for immunotherapy-based treatments could increase the success rate of this class of agents.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue focusing on clinical and translational research in cancer immunotherapy.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) preclinical, translational and clinical studies involving multi-omic techniques (such as genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and immunophenotypic profiling), liquid biopsies and microbiome studies.  Articles exploring innovative strategies for adapting clinical trial design for immunotherapy development will also be accepted.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sofia Genta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer immunotherapy
  • clinical research
  • immune checkpoint inhibitor
  • cancer vaccines
  • biomarker
  • translational research

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 7219 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy by Targeting MDSCs via Hepatic Arterial Infusion in Breast Cancer Liver Metastases
by Minhyung Kim, Colin A. Powers, Daniel T. Fisher, Amy W. Ku, Nickolay Neznanov, Alfiya F. Safina, Jianmin Wang, Avishekh Gautam, Siddharth Balachandran, Anuradha Krishnamurthy, Katerina V. Gurova, Sharon S. Evans, Andrei V. Gudkov and Joseph J. Skitzki
Cancers 2024, 16(21), 3711; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16213711 - 3 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1909
Abstract
Background: Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation often have limited utility for advanced metastatic disease in the liver, and despite its promising activity in select cancers, PD-1 blockade therapy similarly has minimal benefit in this setting. Curaxin, CBL0137, is an experimental anti-cancer drug that disrupts [...] Read more.
Background: Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation often have limited utility for advanced metastatic disease in the liver, and despite its promising activity in select cancers, PD-1 blockade therapy similarly has minimal benefit in this setting. Curaxin, CBL0137, is an experimental anti-cancer drug that disrupts the binding of DNA to histones, destabilizes chromatin, and induces Z-DNA formation which may stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. Methods: Murine cell lines of colon (CT26) and breast (4T1) cancer were interrogated for survival and CBL0137-associated DNA changes in vitro. Immunocompetent models of liver metastases followed by CBL0137 hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) were used to examine in vivo tumor cell DNA alterations, treatment responses, and the immune contexture associated with CBL0137, both alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy. Results: CBL0137 induced immediate changes to favor tumor cell death in vitro and in vivo with an efficient tumor uptake via the HAI route. Toxicity to CBL0137 was minimal and anti-tumor treatment effects were more efficient with HAI compared to intravenous delivery. Immune effects were pronounced with CBL0137 HAI with concurrent depletion of a specific population of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and maintenance of effector T cell populations. Conclusions: Combination of CBL0137 HAI with PD-1 blockade improved survival in 4T1 tumors but not in CT26 tumors, and therapeutic efficacy relies on the finding of simultaneous and targeted depletion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and skewing of T cell populations to produce synergy with PD-1 blockade therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research)
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Review

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38 pages, 2265 KiB  
Review
Personalization of Cancer Treatment: Exploring the Role of Chronotherapy in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Efficacy
by Rosalyn M. Fey, Avery Billo, Terri Clister, Khanh L. Doan, Elizabeth G. Berry, Deanne C. Tibbitts and Rajan P. Kulkarni
Cancers 2025, 17(5), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17050732 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 865
Abstract
In the era of precision medicine, mounting evidence suggests that the time of therapy administration, or chronotherapy, has a great impact on treatment outcomes. Chronotherapy involves planning treatment timing by considering circadian rhythms, which are 24 h oscillations in behavior and physiology driven [...] Read more.
In the era of precision medicine, mounting evidence suggests that the time of therapy administration, or chronotherapy, has a great impact on treatment outcomes. Chronotherapy involves planning treatment timing by considering circadian rhythms, which are 24 h oscillations in behavior and physiology driven by synchronized molecular clocks throughout the body. The value of chronotherapy in cancer treatment is currently under investigation, notably in the effects of treatment timing on efficacy and side effects. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is a promising cancer treatment. However, many patients still experience disease progression or need to stop the therapy early due to side effects. There is accumulating evidence that the time of day at which ICI therapy is administered can have a substantial effect on ICI efficacy. Thus, it is important to investigate the intersections of circadian rhythms, chronotherapy, and ICI efficacy. In this review, we provide a brief overview of circadian rhythms in the context of immunity and cancer. Additionally, we outline current applications of chronotherapy for cancer treatment. We synthesize the 29 studies conducted to date that examine the impact of time-of-day administration on the efficacy of ICI therapy, its associated side effects, and sex differences in both efficacy and side effects. We also discuss potential mechanisms underlying these observed results. Finally, we highlight the challenges in this area and future directions for research, including the potential for a chronotherapeutic personalized medicine approach that tailors the time of ICI administration to individual patients’ circadian rhythms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research)
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21 pages, 1090 KiB  
Review
Advancing Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer: A Brief Review of Emerging Adoptive Cell Therapies
by Deepak Sherpally and Ashish Manne
Cancers 2025, 17(4), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17040589 - 9 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1686
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest 5-year survival rate (13%) among major cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The high lethality of this cancer is attributed to its insidious onset, late-stage diagnosis, rapid progression, and limited [...] Read more.
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest 5-year survival rate (13%) among major cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The high lethality of this cancer is attributed to its insidious onset, late-stage diagnosis, rapid progression, and limited treatment options. Addressing these challenges requires a deeper understanding of the complex tumor microenvironment to identify novel therapeutic targets. Newer approaches like adoptive cell therapy have shown remarkable success in treating hematological malignancies, but their application in solid tumors, particularly pancreatic cancer, is still in the early stages of development. ACT broadly involves isolating immune cells (T lymphocytes, Natural Killer cells, and macrophages) from the patient, followed by genetic engineering to enhance and mount a specific anti-tumor response. Various ACT modalities are under investigation for pancreatic cancer, including chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), chimeric antigen receptor NK cells (CAR-NK), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), T-cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells, and cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK). Major hurdles have been identifying actionable tumor antigens and delivering focused cellular therapies to overcome the immunosuppressive and dense fibrotic stroma surrounding the pancreatic cancer. Further studies are needed to explore the limitations faced by cellular therapy in pancreatic cancer and identify novel combination treatment approaches in order to improve clinical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research)
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20 pages, 4938 KiB  
Review
Synergistic Potential of Antibiotics with Cancer Treatments
by Giuseppe Nardo, Pan Pantziarka and Matteo Conti
Cancers 2025, 17(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010059 - 28 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1239
Abstract
Intratumoral microbiota, the diverse community of microorganisms residing within tumor tissues, represent an emerging and intriguing field in cancer biology. These microbial populations are distinct from the well-studied gut microbiota, offering novel insights into tumor biology, cancer progression, and potential therapeutic interventions. Recent [...] Read more.
Intratumoral microbiota, the diverse community of microorganisms residing within tumor tissues, represent an emerging and intriguing field in cancer biology. These microbial populations are distinct from the well-studied gut microbiota, offering novel insights into tumor biology, cancer progression, and potential therapeutic interventions. Recent studies have explored the use of certain antibiotics to modulate intratumoral microbiota and enhance the efficacy of cancer therapies, showing promising results. Antibiotics can alter intratumoral microbiota’s composition, which may have a major role in promoting cancer progression and immune evasion. Certain bacteria within tumors can promote immunosuppression and resistance to therapies. By targeting these bacteria, antibiotics can help create a more favorable environment for chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy to act effectively. Some bacteria within the tumor microenvironment produce immunosuppressive molecules that inhibit the activity of immune cells. The combination of antibiotics and other cancer therapies holds significant promise for creating a synergistic effect and enhancing the immune response against cancer. In this review, we analyze several preclinical studies that have been conducted to demonstrate the synergy between antibiotics and other cancer therapies and discuss possible clinical implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research)
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29 pages, 9628 KiB  
Review
The Role of YY1 in the Regulation of LAG-3 Expression in CD8 T Cells and Immune Evasion in Cancer: Therapeutic Implications
by Adam Merenstein, Loiy Obeidat, Apostolos Zaravinos and Benjamin Bonavida
Cancers 2025, 17(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010019 - 25 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1305
Abstract
The treatment of cancers with immunotherapies has yielded significant milestones in recent years. Amongst these immunotherapeutic strategies, the FDA has approved several checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs), primarily Anti-Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) and Programmed Death Ligand-1/2 (PDL-1/2) monoclonal antibodies, in the treatment of various cancers unresponsive [...] Read more.
The treatment of cancers with immunotherapies has yielded significant milestones in recent years. Amongst these immunotherapeutic strategies, the FDA has approved several checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs), primarily Anti-Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) and Programmed Death Ligand-1/2 (PDL-1/2) monoclonal antibodies, in the treatment of various cancers unresponsive to immune therapeutics. Such treatments resulted in significant clinical responses and the prolongation of survival in a subset of patients. However, not all patients responded to CPIs, due to various mechanisms of immune resistance. One such mechanism is that, in addition to PD-1 expression on CD8 T cells, other inhibitory receptors exist, such as Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 (LAG-3), T cell Immunoglobulin Mucin 3 (TIM3), and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT). These inhibitory receptors might be active in the presence of the above approved CPIs. Clearly, it is clinically challenging to block all such inhibitory receptors simultaneously using conventional antibodies. To circumvent this difficulty, we sought to target a potential transcription factor that may be involved in the molecular regulation of more than one inhibitory receptor. The transcription factor Yin Yang1 (YY1) was found to regulate the expression of PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM3. Therefore, we hypothesized that targeting YY1 in CD8 T cells should inhibit the expression of these receptors and, thus, prevent the inactivation of the anti-tumor CD8 T cells by these receptors, by corresponding ligands to tumor cells. This strategy should result in the prevention of immune evasion, leading to the inhibition of tumor growth. In addition, this strategy will be particularly effective in a subset of cancer patients who were unresponsive to approved CPIs. In this review, we discuss the regulation of LAG-3 by YY1 as proof of principle for the potential use of targeting YY1 as an alternative therapeutic approach to preventing the immune evasion of cancer. We present findings on the molecular regulations of both YY1 and LAG-3 expressions, the direct regulation of LAG-3 by YY1, the various approaches to targeting YY1 to evade immune evasion, and their clinical challenges. We also present bioinformatic analyses demonstrating the overexpression of LAG-3, YY1, and PD-L1 in various cancers, their associations with immune infiltrates, and the fact that when LAG-3 is hypermethylated in its promoter region it correlates with a better overall survival. Hence, targeting YY1 in CD8 T cells will result in restoring the anti-tumor immune response and tumor regression. Notably, in addition to the beneficial effects of targeting YY1 in CD8 T cells to inhibit the expression of inhibitory receptors, we also suggest targeting YY1 overexpressed in the tumor cells, which will also inhibit PD-L1 expression and other YY1-associated pro-tumorigenic activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research)
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26 pages, 1318 KiB  
Review
Beyond Anti-PD-1/PD-L1: Improving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Responses in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
by Kennady K. Bullock and Ann Richmond
Cancers 2024, 16(12), 2189; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16122189 - 11 Jun 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3911
Abstract
The introduction of anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1) to the clinical management of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a breakthrough for a disease whose treatment has long relied on the standards of chemotherapy and surgery. Nevertheless, few TNBC patients achieve a durable remission [...] Read more.
The introduction of anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1) to the clinical management of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a breakthrough for a disease whose treatment has long relied on the standards of chemotherapy and surgery. Nevertheless, few TNBC patients achieve a durable remission in response to anti-PD-1, and there is a need to develop strategies to maximize the potential benefit of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) for TNBC patients. In the present review, we discuss three conceptual strategies to improve ICI response rates in TNBC patients. The first effort involves improving patient selection. We discuss proposed biomarkers of response and resistance to anti-PD-1, concluding that an optimal biomarker will likely be multifaceted. The second effort involves identifying existing targeted therapies or chemotherapies that may synergize with ICI. In particular, we describe recent efforts to use inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT or RAS/MAPK/ERK pathways in combination with ICI. Third, considering the possibility that targeting the PD-1 axis is not the most promising strategy for TNBC treatment, we describe ongoing efforts to identify novel immunotherapy strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Immunotherapy in Clinical and Translational Research)
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