Cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy — treatments that harness and enhance the powers of the immune system to fight cancer — has been hailed the biggest breakthrough in cancer research since chemotherapy. The ‘power’ of the immune system stems from its exquisite specificity, its capacity for memory and its ability to travel to and distinguish tumour cells from healthy cells. Harnessing this power has the potential to achieve long-lasting regression and prevent relapse in patients with cancer.
 

This webcast describes some of the most promising approaches to cancer immunotherapy. These include the use of modified versions of a patient’s own T cells that are better able to target cancer cells, vaccines that boost otherwise ineffective immune responses against tumours, and antibodies that release the ‘brakes’ that the tumour environment can put on immune cells (an approach called checkpoint blockade). However, many challenges remain in translating scientific advances to clinical use. A better understanding of the complex interactions between tumours and the immune system, the varied response to therapies and the barriers to success are needed for the development of more effective cancer immunotherapies in the future.
 

Please join us as four experts explain their roles in this exciting field and take part in a live discussion on the future of cancer immunotherapy.