Latest Issue of the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Now Available!
SITC is excited to announce the second issue of the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) is now available! In this issue, data from two recent studies are reported, including a pilot randomized phase I trial in pancreatic cancer patients to determine the peptide dose required to induce an optimal CD8 + T cell response. Also, a novel approach to categorize immunity in patients that uses a combination of whole blood flow cytometry and hierarchical clustering is discussed, along with two meeting reviews from SITC 2012. We invite you to explore the entire issue at: www.immunotherapyofcancer.org.
Officially launched last month, JITC is an online, peer-reviewed, open-access journal encompassing all aspects of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, from basic research to clinical application. SITC is currently accepting submissions to JITC and offers Society members waived article processing charges through 2013!
A Randomized Pilot Phase I study of Modified Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Peptide (CAP1-6D)/Montanide/GM-CSF-Vaccine in Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
First, the study design successfully showed that a randomized trial can be used to compare vaccine peptide doses rather than a typical phase I dose escalation, for a therapy that is not expected to show toxicity. Second, the results indicate that the highest peptide dose (1 mg) gave the best T cell priming. In addition, the favorable clinical outcome in a subset of patients supports the notion that pancreatic cancer can be an immune-responsive disease.
“These results will pave the way for larger phase II studies, combination therapies, and an opportunity to look for predictive biomarkers,” said Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD, University of Chicago, and one of the authors of the paper.
Click here to read the full article in JITC.
Immune Monitoring Using the Predictive Power of Immune Profiles
The article by Gustafson et. al, takes a systems based approach to immunity in cancer patients. Combining whole blood quantitative flow cytometry and bioinformatics analysis, they identified immune profiles shared between patients with either ovarian cancer, glioblastoma, non-Hodkin's lymphoma or renal cell carcinoma.
The study showed patients with immune profiles similar to healthy volunteer's survived longer independent of the underlying cancer diagnosis, and thus provides tools to comprehensively describe the immune system. These tools were used to identify novel relationships within immunity including the association of survival with a potentially powerful immune biomarker (the CD4+/CD14DRneg ratio).
“Perhaps the most significant potential of this methodology is its ability to evaluate immune modulating drugs in the context of the immune system rather than being evaluated in the context of the underlying disease,” said Allan B. Dietz, PhD, Mayo Clinic, and corresponding author of the paper. “This could rapidly speed immune modulating drug development and inform their appropriate use across malignancies.”
Click here to read the full article in JITC.
Meeting Report: Professional Development Session for Early Career Scientists at SITC 2012
For the first time at the SITC Annual Meeting, a symposium was organized to promote professional development of early career scientists in cancer immunotherapy. This article summarizes advice given by scientists in the areas of grant writing, starting a lab, and the business of research. It also discusses career opportunities in academia, industry and government.
“This professional development session as well as ones to come will help advance the field by providing valuable insight and career guidance for investigators embarking in cancer immunotherapy research,” Christian M. Capitini, MD, University of Wisconsin, and corresponding author of the paper, said. “Publishing this session in JITC will insure the major discussion points reach a wide audience and are readily available for early career scientists to reference.”
Click here to read the full article in JITC.
Due to the overwhelming success of the event, SITC will be offering a "Professional Development Session: A Survival Guide for Young Scientists" at SITC 2013! Click here for more information.
"Focus on the Target: The Tumor Microenvironment," a Review of SITC's 2012 Annual Meeting Workshop
SITC’s 2012 Workshop, “Focus on the Target: The Tumor Microenvironment,” highlighted a rapidly growing appreciation for the complexities of the tumor microenvironment, and how they might be manipulated therapeutically to promote or even provoke effective tumor immunity.
This article covers the four central themes that were the focus of the Workshop and highlights the importance of accurately profiling the immunobiology of the tumor microenvironment—and standardizing an Immunoscore—to better define prognosis and response to both immune-based and standard cancer therapies.
“Using integrated, sequential combination treatment strategies matched to both the genetics and immunobiology of a patient’s tumor will make personalized immunotherapy a reality, which could lead to increased cancer cure rates and ultimately effective cancer prevention strategies,” said Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, and corresponding author of the paper.
Click here to read the full article in JITC.
This year's Annual Meeting Workshop: "Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy," will be held on November 7, 2013! For more information, visit: www.sitcancer.org/2013/workshop.
Submit Your Research to JITC!
The Society is pleased to offer SITC members waived article processing charges for manuscripts accepted through 2013. For more information, visit: www.sitcancer.org/journal.
Now Accepting Submissions in:
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Basic Tumor Immunology: including tumor antigens, innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune mechanisms, immune regulation, immune response, cancer and inflammation, preclinical models, chemotherapy and radiotherapy interactions with the anti-tumor immune response, and oncolytic viruses.
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Clinical/Translational Cancer Immunotherapy: including first in man clinical trials, phase II/III clinical studies, immune monitoring investigations, tumor microenvironment, host genetics and clinical outcome, and updates on clinical trials.
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Immunotherapy Biomarkers: including predictive/prognostic biomarker studies, gene expression studies in cancer immunotherapy, serological immune biomarkers, multiparameter flow cytometry-defined immune biomarkers, and high content immunohistological studies.
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Reviews/Editorials: including discussion on hot topics and innovative concepts.
