Advances in treatment of pediatric malignancies over the past three decades focused on the intensification of conventional chemotherapy. This approach has reached the limit of acceptable toxicity and is being replaced by immunotherapeutic strategies which offer more precise cancer directed therapy with less off-target organ toxicity. Advancements in cancer immunology include the manipulation and reengineering of effector components of the immune system to enhance anti-tumor activity. Although much attention is currently being directed in the realm of cellular therapy, (Car T-cells, NK cells, etc), there also have been successes using cytokines, tumor specific monoclonal antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, bispecific T cell engagers, checkpoint inhibitors and other non-cellular components of the immune system.
This Research Topic will update pediatric oncologists on strategies and outcomes using non-cellular immunotherapies against pediatric cancer. Both original research and review articles that include basic science, translational research and clinical studies will be welcomed along with exploratory investigations bringing forward novel strategies that may ultimately be used to treat this population. Articles may include a single immunotherapy targeting multiple tumor types or multiple strategies targeting a specific disease. Possible examples include:
1. Antibodies targeted to tumor specific antigens, including the use of naked antibodies, antibody conjugates, and bi-specific T cell engagers (BITE).
2. Radioimmunotherapy
3. The role of checkpoint inhibition in pediatric cancer
4. The use of cytokines to enhance anti-tumor responses.
5. Tumor vaccines
6. Integration of non-cellular immunotherapies with conventional treatments.
7. Disease specific strategies, characterizing obstacles utilizing the immune system to treat pediatric cancer and strategies to overcome such obstacles.
Reviews will prioritize work performed within the realm of pediatric-specific malignancies, but submissions that have the potential to be used in the pediatric arena will also be strongly considered.
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.
Advances in treatment of pediatric malignancies over the past three decades focused on the intensification of conventional chemotherapy. This approach has reached the limit of acceptable toxicity and is being replaced by immunotherapeutic strategies which offer more precise cancer directed therapy with less off-target organ toxicity. Advancements in cancer immunology include the manipulation and reengineering of effector components of the immune system to enhance anti-tumor activity. Although much attention is currently being directed in the realm of cellular therapy, (Car T-cells, NK cells, etc), there also have been successes using cytokines, tumor specific monoclonal antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, bispecific T cell engagers, checkpoint inhibitors and other non-cellular components of the immune system.
This Research Topic will update pediatric oncologists on strategies and outcomes using non-cellular immunotherapies against pediatric cancer. Both original research and review articles that include basic science, translational research and clinical studies will be welcomed along with exploratory investigations bringing forward novel strategies that may ultimately be used to treat this population. Articles may include a single immunotherapy targeting multiple tumor types or multiple strategies targeting a specific disease. Possible examples include:
1. Antibodies targeted to tumor specific antigens, including the use of naked antibodies, antibody conjugates, and bi-specific T cell engagers (BITE).
2. Radioimmunotherapy
3. The role of checkpoint inhibition in pediatric cancer
4. The use of cytokines to enhance anti-tumor responses.
5. Tumor vaccines
6. Integration of non-cellular immunotherapies with conventional treatments.
7. Disease specific strategies, characterizing obstacles utilizing the immune system to treat pediatric cancer and strategies to overcome such obstacles.
Reviews will prioritize work performed within the realm of pediatric-specific malignancies, but submissions that have the potential to be used in the pediatric arena will also be strongly considered.
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.