Melanoma/Skin Cancer
Emerging therapies in solid tumors
Interleukin-8 (IL-8), also known as chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8, is a pro-inflammatory chemokine that exerts direct pro-tumorigenic effects primarily by recruiting immunosuppressive cells into the tumor microenvironment such as neutrophils and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. IL-8 has also been shown to promote cancer progression and resistance to therapy, by inducing angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem cell (CSC) self-renewal.
Novel early clinical approaches in solid tumors
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have proven to be effective in the clinic for patients with malignant B-cell tumors but their application for solid tumors is challenging. BNT211 is a novel therapeutic approach which comprises two components: CAR-T cells targeting the Claudin 6 (CLDN6) and a CLDN6-encoding CAR-T cell amplifying RNA vaccine (CARVac).
Checkpoint inhibition: predictors, resistance and immunogenomic features
Immune checkpoints, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), downregulate T-cell responses and are crucial for self-tolerance, which protects the body against attacking cells indiscriminately. Tumor cells hijack this mechanism to evade the immune system through the activation of immune checkpoints and inhibition of the T-cell response.