Cancer immunotherapies targeting adaptive immunity traditionally target CD8+ T cells, specifically those that recognize tumor antigens and have the potential to kill. Recent in-depth research on the mechanisms of action for single or combination anti-PD-1 one and anti-CTLA-4, already in use as standard-of-care immunotherapies, suggests CD8+ T- and NK cell-helping CD4+ T cells and B cells are important targets conveying efficacy. Complimentary exploration of the role of the microbiota in tumor clearance suggests the balance of Tregs, follicular helper phenotype conventional CD4+ T cells, and Ig-secreting B cells at the site of solid mucosal barrier-associated tumors are sensitive to microbial composition and may be crucial to successful immunotherapy.
Fundamental to precision medicine for treatment of cancer is the identification and utility of predictive biomarkers. Published research on the influence of the microbiome and immunotherapies on cytotoxic CD8+ T cell-potentiating neoantigen-specific B cells and Tfh responses has been largely limited to animal models (GEMM, noted gnotobiotic mice, and transgenic T cell adoptive therapy), however there are growing clinical trial data sets employing technical advances in fecal microbiota transplantation, tetramer-based T and B cell enrichment, and single-cell sequencing. Exploration has been enabled into the role very rare, but crucial neoantigen-specific adaptive immune cells play in effective mono- and combination- immunotherapy. Generation of new data sets and mining of existing data sets using these tools will facilitate the identification and rational design of new and improved immunotherapy targets and efficacy-predictive biomarkers.
In this Research Topic, we look forward to publishing high-quality original research papers and reviews on the role the microbiota, follicular helper T cells, and B cells play in the efficacy of immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The scope of this Research Topic will include cancer immunotherapy targeting in both preclinical animal models and human clinical research. Of special interest is data and/or reviews discussing potential predictive cellular and molecular biomarkers of adaptive immunity. Discussion should integrate neoantigen-specific helper CD4+ T cell responses (Th1, Tfh, Tfr, and Treg) with B cells, tumor-specific immunoglobulin, and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells.
Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this topic.
Cancer immunotherapies targeting adaptive immunity traditionally target CD8+ T cells, specifically those that recognize tumor antigens and have the potential to kill. Recent in-depth research on the mechanisms of action for single or combination anti-PD-1 one and anti-CTLA-4, already in use as standard-of-care immunotherapies, suggests CD8+ T- and NK cell-helping CD4+ T cells and B cells are important targets conveying efficacy. Complimentary exploration of the role of the microbiota in tumor clearance suggests the balance of Tregs, follicular helper phenotype conventional CD4+ T cells, and Ig-secreting B cells at the site of solid mucosal barrier-associated tumors are sensitive to microbial composition and may be crucial to successful immunotherapy.
Fundamental to precision medicine for treatment of cancer is the identification and utility of predictive biomarkers. Published research on the influence of the microbiome and immunotherapies on cytotoxic CD8+ T cell-potentiating neoantigen-specific B cells and Tfh responses has been largely limited to animal models (GEMM, noted gnotobiotic mice, and transgenic T cell adoptive therapy), however there are growing clinical trial data sets employing technical advances in fecal microbiota transplantation, tetramer-based T and B cell enrichment, and single-cell sequencing. Exploration has been enabled into the role very rare, but crucial neoantigen-specific adaptive immune cells play in effective mono- and combination- immunotherapy. Generation of new data sets and mining of existing data sets using these tools will facilitate the identification and rational design of new and improved immunotherapy targets and efficacy-predictive biomarkers.
In this Research Topic, we look forward to publishing high-quality original research papers and reviews on the role the microbiota, follicular helper T cells, and B cells play in the efficacy of immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The scope of this Research Topic will include cancer immunotherapy targeting in both preclinical animal models and human clinical research. Of special interest is data and/or reviews discussing potential predictive cellular and molecular biomarkers of adaptive immunity. Discussion should integrate neoantigen-specific helper CD4+ T cell responses (Th1, Tfh, Tfr, and Treg) with B cells, tumor-specific immunoglobulin, and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells.
Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this topic.