The clinical application of immuno-therapeutics

Immuno-oncology (IO) is one of the fastest growing therapeutic areas within oncology. IO agents work indirectly via the host’s adaptive and innate immune systems to recognize and eradicate tumor cells. Current U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved classes of IO agents include immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, bispecific T-cell engage antibody therapy, cancer vaccine therapy, and oncolytic virus therapy. Cancer immunotherapy has made progress in melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and urothelial carcinoma. CAR T-cell therapies have a promising role for the treatment of many liquid malignancies. Future directions of IO include exploration in the neoadjuvant setting, combination strategies, and optimizing patient selection through improved biomarkers.