Antibody-Mediated Therapy and Other Emerging Therapies in Cancer Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in antibody-mediated therapy have significantly improved its therapeutic efficacy in many types of cancer. Antibody-mediated therapy includes the following:

1. Monoclonal antibodies against specific targets associated with cancer cell survival, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance;
2. Monoclonal antibodies against specific targets that are relatively highly expressed in cancer cells or are cancer-specific, regardless of cancer cell survival progression, metastasis, or drug resistance;
3. Monoclonal antibodies against specific targets in cancer cells or normal cells that modulate the tumor microenvironment, especially immune systems;
4. Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are complex molecules consisting of antibodies conjugated to biologically active cancer cell-killing substances.

These antibody-mediated therapies have been widely used as combination therapies due to their synergistic effects with cytotoxic anticancer drugs. Eventually, ADCs, complex molecules consisting of antibodies and cytotoxic substances, were developed to improve treatment outcomes. However, the side effects of ADCs are very serious, requiring careful monitoring during treatment. Therefore, this Topic was prepared to deeply examine the efficacy, related mechanisms, and toxicities of the latest antibody-related therapies or other novel therapies for each cancer.

Scope of the Topic

1. Monoclonal antibodies as monotherapy, as antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), or in combination with other drugs in cancer treatment:
2. Efficacy, mechanism of action, and treatment guidelines;
3. Predictive/prognostic biomarkers;
4. Toxicity and management.
5. Other emerging therapies in cancer treatment (CAR-T cell therapy, NK or other cell therapies, oncolytic virus therapy, cancer vaccines, targeted therapy, etc.). 

Dr. Won Sup Lee
Prof. Dr. Yaewon Yang
Prof. Dr. Seil Go
Topic Editors