Follow along as this New York Times bestselling author details the astonishing scientific discovery of the code to unleashing the human immune system to fight in this "captivating and heartbreaking" book (The Wall Street Journal). For decades, scientists have puzzled over one of medicine's most confounding mysteries: Why doesn't our immune system recognize and fight cancer the way it does other diseases, like the common cold? As it turns out, the answer to that question can be traced to a series of tricks that cancer has developed to turn off normal immune responses -- tricks that scientists have only recently discovered and learned to defeat. The result is what many are calling cancer's "penicillin moment," a revolutionary discovery in our understanding of cancer and how to beat it. In The Breakthrough, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Nurse Charles Graeber guides readers through the revolutionary scientific research bringing immunotherapy out of the realm of the miraculous and into the forefront of twenty-first-century medical science. As advances in the fields of cancer research and the human immune system continue to fuel a therapeutic arms race among biotech and pharmaceutical research centers around the world, the next step -- harnessing the wealth of new information to create modern and more effective patient therapies -- is unfolding at an unprecedented pace, rapidly redefining our relationship with this all-too-human disease. Groundbreaking, riveting, and expertly told, The Breakthrough is the story of the game-changing scientific discoveries that unleash our natural ability to recognize and defeat cancer, as told through the experiences of the patients, physicians, and cancer immunotherapy researchers who are on the front lines. This is the incredible true story of the race to find a cure, a dispatch from the life-changing world of modern oncological science, and a brave new chapter in medical history.

The field of immuno-oncology continues to rapidly evolve as new insights to fight and treat cancer emerge. The fourth edition of Immunotherapy provides the most current overview of immuno-oncology in different cancer types and toxicities associated with immunotherapy. While immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape of several solid malignancies, several challenges still exist. Only a subset of patients derive clinical benefits; some do not respond at all, and others respond initially, only for their disease to progress later. Because these drugs can activate a broad range of immune cells, patients suffer from a unique set of side effects known as immune-related adverse events. As more immunotherapeutic agents are used in the clinic, it is important to provide updates about current and ongoing developments in the field to further research efforts and inform treatment decisions. The fourth edition will have a new focus on strategies to overcome the challenges associated with immunotherapy. Chapters will discuss topics such as biomarkers of response, resistance mechanisms, role of imaging in predicting immune-related adverse events, and management of immune-related adverse events. Written by leading experts conducting cutting-edge research, readers will gain up-to-date knowledge on the current state and future of immunotherapy.

This book provides patients and their physicians (especially “non-oncologist” health care providers) with a clear and concise introduction to cancer immunotherapy, which, unlike traditional forms of cancer therapy, acts by boosting the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. The unique features of cancer immunotherapy make its management, monitoring and side-effects different from those of traditional cancer therapy. Especially novel are the side effects of cancer immunotherapy, necessitating greater awareness for both patients and physicians in order to minimize complications of therapy. The patient-friendly, concise, easy-to-understand, and up-to-date knowledge presented in this book will inform patients about the benefits and risks of cancer immunotherapy, and help them and their care providers to understand how immunotherapy would control their unique disease. Researchers and academic professionals in the field of cancer immunotherapy will also find clear and useful information to help them communicate with patients or address unresolved problems. Some key features of the book are: Expertise. All editors and authors are scientists and oncologists specializing in cancer immunotherapy, and are involved in scientific discovery from the early stage of immune-checkpoint inhibitors to today’s daily patient care. Their insights, expertise and experience guarantee the high quality and authority in the science, medicine and practice of cancer immunotherapy. Patient-friendly. This book is written for cancer patients in order to meet their needs when considering immunotherapy. As an educational tool, this book will help the reader balance the risks and benefits based on both science and clinical facts, and therefore to make the best choice in receiving or withdrawing from immunotherapy. Disease Specificity. Cancer is a complicated disease involving multiple stages and pathology. Its response to immunotherapy is individualized and varies depending on cancer types. The authors’ expertise in treating different types of cancers, including melanoma, lung, kidney, bladder, and lymphoma, provides disease-specific insights in applying immunotherapy to each disease.

Clinical and preclinical exploration of gene and cellular immunotherapy have seen rapid growth and interest with the development and approval of five Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) products for lymphoma and myeloma and one Bispecific T-Cell Engager (BiTE) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). These advances have dramatically improved the management of patients with relapsed refractory lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia. Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy for Cancer offers readers a comprehensive review of current cellular and gene-based immunotherapies. Divided into eighteen cohesive chapters, this book provides an in-depth and detailed look into cellular-based immunotherapies including CAR-T, TCR-T, TIL, Viral CTLs, NK cells in addition to T/NK cell engagers, focusing on their historical perspectives, biology, development and manufacturing, toxicities and more. Edited by two leading experts on gene and cellular immunotherapy, the book will feature chapters written by a diverse collection of recognized and up-and-coming experts and researchers in the field, providing oncologists, immunologists, researchers and clinical and basic science trainees with a bench to bedside view of the latest developments in the field.

This book provides the immune oncology (IO) community with a deeper understanding of the scope of the biomarker methods to potentially improve the outcome from immunotherapy. The editors secured the input from experts in the field dedicated to translating scientific research from bench to bedside was submitted. The book provides not only details about the technical, standardization and interpretation aspects of the methods but also introduces the reader to the background information and scientific justification for selected biomarkers and assays. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Part 1: Intratumoral Signatures Associated With Immune Responsiveness