title: The expanding role of immunotherapy.
abstract: The use of agents able to modulate the immune system to induce or potentiate its anti-tumour activity is not a new strategy in oncology. However, the development of new agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors has achieved unprecedented efficacy results in a wide variety of tumours, dramatically changing the landscape of cancer treatment in recent years. Ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab or atezolizumab are now standard of care options in several malignancies and new indications are being approved on a regular basis in different tumours. Moreover, there are many other novel immunotherapy strategies that are currently being assessed in clinical trials. Agonists of co-stimulatory signals, adoptive cell therapies, vaccines, virotherapy and others have raised interest as therapeutic options against cancer. In addition, many of these novel approaches are being developed both in monotherapy and as part of combinatory regimes in order to synergize their activity. The results from those studies will help to define the expanding role of immunotherapy in cancer treatment in a forthcoming future.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jmartinliberal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin-Liberal
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochoa de Olza
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cinta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hierro
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gros
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodon
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tabernero
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods; D000074324:Ipilimumab; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D000077594:Nivolumab; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy / Q000379:methods; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C423236:CD274 protein, human; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D000074324:Ipilimumab; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D000077594:Nivolumab; C582435:pembrolizumab
keywords: Cell therapy; Checkpoint inhibitors; Co-stimulatory agonists; Combination; Vaccines; Virus