Targeting CDK2 to circumvent treatment resistance in HR breast cancer.

Genetic and epigenetic defects of the p53 system have previously been associated with resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in women with HR breast cancer. Recent data from Kudo et al. demonstrate that CDK2-targeting agents may offer an effective strategy to circumvent such resistance by enforcing cellular senescence downstream of RBL2 dephosphorylation.

Targeting immune evasion in hepatocellular carcinoma-initiating cells.

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are particularly efficient at evading detection and elimination by the human immune system. Recent data from Yang and collaborators demonstrate that - at least in preclinical hepatocellular carcinoma models - the immunological privilege of CD49f TICs can be limited by targeting CD155, resulting in restored sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

A novel pharmacological entity toward integrated multimodal immunotherapy.

Most solid tumors are insensitive to single-agent immunotherapy, calling for the development of combinatorial treatment regimens. Recently, Lin and collaborators developed a pharmacological platform enabling the combination of different immunotherapies into a single chemical entity. This approach may effectively circumvent obstacles associated with the simultaneous delivery of multiple immunotherapeutic agents.

Pushing the boundaries of radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: highlights from the 7 immunorad conference.

Over the last decade, the annual Immunorad Conference, held under the joint auspicies of Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France) and the Weill Cornell Medical College (New-York, USA) has aimed at exploring the latest advancements in the fields of tumor immunology and radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations for the treatment of cancer. Gathering medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physicians and researchers with esteemed expertise in these fields, the Immunorad Conference bridges the gap between preclinical outcomes and clinical opportunities. Thus, it paves a promising way toward optimizing radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations and, from a broader perspective, improving therapeutic strategies for patients with cancer.