Immune checkpoints play an essential role in tumor immune evasion and tumor progression. During the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown revolutionary achievement in treating multiple malignancies, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. In particular, monoclonal antibody drugs targeting PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA4 have been used in the first-line treatment for malignant tumors, either alone or in combination with other drugs. Recently, exhaustive efforts have been made to develop small molecule drugs that target immune checkpoint molecules or combine with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) for clinical cancer therapy. Small-molecule drugs have desirable benefits, including excellent cell permeability, long half-lives, high stability, low production costs, low immune-related adverse events (irAEs), organ specificity, and the possibility for oral administration. All these advantages suggest that developing small-molecule drugs holds great promise in tumor immunotherapy.
This Research Topic aims to provide a forum:
1) to discover novel small-molecule drugs that target immune checkpoints or synergize with ICB blockades;
2) to present the most rational and pioneer combined regimens that enhance the efficacy of ICB;
3) to explore novel small-molecule drug delivery systems that improve the therapeutic effects or avoid the side effects;
4) to develop novel combinatorial regimens or small-molecule drugs that diminish ICB's side effects.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Case Report focusing on major trends and challenges in this field, including but not limited to:
1. Developing novel small-molecule anti-cancer drugs that target or synergize with ICB.
2. Optimizing novel and effective combinatorial regimens that synergize with the therapeutic effects of current ICIs.
3. Exploiting novel small-molecule drug delivery systems for ICB therapy.
4. Proposing novel combinatorial regimens or novel small-molecule drugs to relieve irAEs.
Immune checkpoints play an essential role in tumor immune evasion and tumor progression. During the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown revolutionary achievement in treating multiple malignancies, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. In particular, monoclonal antibody drugs targeting PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA4 have been used in the first-line treatment for malignant tumors, either alone or in combination with other drugs. Recently, exhaustive efforts have been made to develop small molecule drugs that target immune checkpoint molecules or combine with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) for clinical cancer therapy. Small-molecule drugs have desirable benefits, including excellent cell permeability, long half-lives, high stability, low production costs, low immune-related adverse events (irAEs), organ specificity, and the possibility for oral administration. All these advantages suggest that developing small-molecule drugs holds great promise in tumor immunotherapy.
This Research Topic aims to provide a forum:
1) to discover novel small-molecule drugs that target immune checkpoints or synergize with ICB blockades;
2) to present the most rational and pioneer combined regimens that enhance the efficacy of ICB;
3) to explore novel small-molecule drug delivery systems that improve the therapeutic effects or avoid the side effects;
4) to develop novel combinatorial regimens or small-molecule drugs that diminish ICB's side effects.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Case Report focusing on major trends and challenges in this field, including but not limited to:
1. Developing novel small-molecule anti-cancer drugs that target or synergize with ICB.
2. Optimizing novel and effective combinatorial regimens that synergize with the therapeutic effects of current ICIs.
3. Exploiting novel small-molecule drug delivery systems for ICB therapy.
4. Proposing novel combinatorial regimens or novel small-molecule drugs to relieve irAEs.