Small Molecules in Cancer Immunotherapy

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a multifaceted disease and constitutes a great challenge to society, as it is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. There are different types of cancer that arise in different organs, each requiring specific pharmacological approaches. Cancer immunotherapy, either on its own or in combination with other strategies, represents the new frontier in oncological treatment. Immunotherapy enables the immune system to recognize and target cancer cells. Current cancer immunotherapies are mostly antibody-based, thereby possessing pharmacokinetic limitations such as long half-lives, poor tissue/tumor penetration, and scarce oral bioavailability. Furthermore, therapeutic antibodies may cause severe unwanted adverse effects due to their immunogenic nature. However, small molecules targeting defined pathways and/or cells involved in immunomodulation may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages, thus improving the efficacy of cancer therapy. Specifically, they act at the extracellular or intracellular levels, can be administrated orally, and their shorter half-lives could reduce the risk of systemic toxicity. Hence, the rapid development of small molecules for cancer immunotherapy has been witnessed over recent years.

Authors are invited to submit original articles presenting their research in this field. The proposed topic is in relation to small molecules as immunomodulators for cancer therapy, such as those targeting PD-1/PD-L1, chemokine receptors, Toll-like receptors, A_2A/A_2B adenosine receptors, and CD39/CD73. Moreover, review articles summarizing knowledge on these topics are also of interest.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Catarzi
Prof. Dr. Vittoria Colotta
Dr. Flavia Varano
Guest Editors

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