Updates on the Changing Landscape of Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in Cancer

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a multifaceted process that involves various mechanisms in a complex pathological network connecting myriads of cellular events. In solid tumors, within the tumor niche, inflammation and oxidative stress, to highlight just two important processes, shape cellular responses, whether the tumor cell itself or the immune cells that sustain the anti-tumoral response. Therefore, the development and progression of cancer is shaped by the cross-talk between a tumor and the host’s immune system; consequently, a deeper understanding of the interactions between immune cells and the tumor microenvironment is a matter of urgency improve the success of cancer therapy.

In recent years, cancer treatment has undergone a remarkable transformation through the use of new therapeutic modalities alongside traditional treatments, with novel developments including immune checkpoint-targeted antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, cell-based therapies, small-molecule targeted agents, and gene therapy. These cutting-edge therapeutic modalities allow precise and personalized tumor targeting, with the potential to prevent disease progression and provide patients with increased therapeutic comfort. However, these therapeutic strategies still present untapped potential, and full understanding of the merits and limitations of these treatment modalities will provide new perspectives for clinical practice and oncological research.

Through this Special Issue, we aim to bring together the latest research, clinical studies, and expert opinions on immunotherapy and targeted therapy in solid cancer, and we prospect to provide an up-to-date view on the state-of-the-art in basic and translational cancer immunotherapy research. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: cell-based immunotherapy; combination therapeutic approaches; tumor progression/metastasis, immune escape, and resistance to targeted immunotherapy; high-throughput approaches to discover novel immunomodulatory drugs; biomarkers for immunotherapy; genetic/epigenetic traits for immunotherapy.

Prof. Dr. Monica Neagu
Guest Editor

Dr. Gheorghita Isvoranu
Guest Editor Assistant

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• cancer immunotherapy
• cancer targeted therapy
• immune checkpoint targeted therapy
• cell therapy in cancer
• signal transduction inhibitors
• small molecules of cancer drugs
• tumor microenvironment
• efficacy biomarkers for cancer therapy
• mechanisms of resistance