Immuno-oncology: developing integrated approaches toward clinical success of biologics and small-molecule modulators

Abstract

Immuno-oncology (IO) therapy is an exciting emerging pillar of cancer treatment that embraces the concept of modulating the immune system to recognize tumor cells and target them for destruction by either harnessing the effects of the immune system or preventing the evasion of tumor cells from therapeutic targeting. However, our immune system is constantly in a delicate balance between under-performing immune cells failing to manage pathogens, infections or cancer and over-performing immune cells potentially causing autoimmune disorders or cytokine release storms. Over the last 30 years, IO has progressed considerably with approvals for the use of various IO therapeutics including vaccines, cytokines, tumor-directed monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors as well as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapies.