Immuno-Oncology and Interventional Oncology

Hyun S. Kim, MD, MHS

Immuno-oncology (IO¹) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is one of the most important milestones in cancer medicine discovery and has emerged at the forefront of therapy for advanced cancers. Early studies of immunotherapies with ICI of the CTLA-4 and the PD-1/PD-L1 axis have shown efficacy in solid cancers of melanoma, lung and genitourinary cancers. Recently, active investigations in advanced gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, gastroesophageal cancer and colorectal cancer, have shown promising results with IO¹.

Interventional oncology (IO²) with sophisticated local therapies for local tumor control can play an important role in reducing tumor burden, thereby improving the disease control rates and overall outcomes. Significant advancements in local therapy, beyond the obvious local benefit, have demonstrated the potential to induce an in situ antitumor immunostimulatory process in several solid tumors.

Combining IO¹ and IO² therapies could result in an ideal treatment strategy to enhance patient benefits. Significant works are currently underway in basic and translational research, biology, biomarkers, imaging, and techniques for IO¹ + IO² treatment strategies to be used in advanced cancers. Basic scientific findings in relation to immune-modulation strategies of IO¹ + IO² with effective antitumor immune response are also under investigations in clinical trials, and it may potentially further enhance immunotherapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.

The field of IO¹ + IO² is novel, and although there have been remarkable developments and advances in it, there is still a lot of work ahead in this complex, challenging and yet exciting sphere. With advances in sophisticated systemic and local cancer therapies, clinical care in advanced metastatic digestive disease cancers in the real world are not only of significant interest but also represent unmet needs.

Keeping this in mind, the special issue in Immuno-Oncology and Interventional Oncology in Digestive Disease Interventions is devoted to the science and evidence IO¹ and IO² therapies. It presents the rationale and provides clinical and research directions to immune therapy and local therapy approaches in the care of advanced digestive disease cancers.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
21. Dezember 2020