Publications (144) View all
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Article: Immune classification of colorectal cancer patients: impressive but how complete?
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ABSTRACT: Introduction: There is now accumulating evidence to suggest that intratumoral adaptive immune responses predict patient prognosis. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has been correlated with patients' disease-free and overall survival. Recent exciting studies of human colorectal cancers (CRCs) have underlined the significance of including immunological biomarkers as prognostic markers. Areas covered: This review covers recent literature which suggests that the type, density and location of immune cells within the colorectal tumors represent a better predictor of patient survival than the histopathological methods currently used to stage CRC. Expert opinion: Remarkably, the quantity, quality and spatial distribution of immune cells within the tumor has a greater prognostic value than the standard tumor staging based on tumor burden, infiltration of draining and regional lymph nodes by tumor cells, and evidence of metastases. In addition, such an immune classification may also have a predictive value. Thus, by increasing the knowledge of the immune events inside the tumors and by better understanding the immune architecture of these tumors as well as the functional programs of their constituents, there will certainly be a more complete idea of how tumors evade from immunosurveillance. This knowledge will help to identify new targets for the development of therapeutic strategies.Expert opinion on biological therapy 01/2013; · 3.22 Impact Factor -
Article: Ninth annual meeting of the Italian Network for Tumor Biotherapy (NIBIT), Siena, Italy, October 19-22, 2011: New perspectives in the immunotherapy of cancer.
Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy 06/2012; 61(9):1599-608. · 3.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Toxicity profiles of HER2/neu peptide anticancer vaccines: the picture from Phase/I and II clinical trials.
Expert Review of Vaccines 06/2012; 11(6):637-40. · 4.25 Impact Factor -
Article: New insights into the role of NK cells in cancer immunotherapy.
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ABSTRACT: Repetitive infusions of ex vivo expanded NK cells induced antitumor T-cell responses in a metastatic lung cancer mouse model. These were further potentiated by Treg depletion. Thus the combination of NK cell-based immunotherapy with other treatment modalities in the direction of adaptive response enhancement might promote long lasting antitumor immunity.Oncoimmunology. 03/2012; 1(2):205-207. -
Article: Defining the critical hurdles in cancer immunotherapy.
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ABSTRACT: Scientific discoveries that provide strong evidence of antitumor effects in preclinical models often encounter significant delays before being tested in patients with cancer. While some of these delays have a scientific basis, others do not. We need to do better. Innovative strategies need to move into early stage clinical trials as quickly as it is safe, and if successful, these therapies should efficiently obtain regulatory approval and widespread clinical application. In late 2009 and 2010 the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), convened an "Immunotherapy Summit" with representatives from immunotherapy organizations representing Europe, Japan, China and North America to discuss collaborations to improve development and delivery of cancer immunotherapy. One of the concepts raised by SITC and defined as critical by all parties was the need to identify hurdles that impede effective translation of cancer immunotherapy. With consensus on these hurdles, international working groups could be developed to make recommendations vetted by the participating organizations. These recommendations could then be considered by regulatory bodies, governmental and private funding agencies, pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to facilitate changes necessary to accelerate clinical translation of novel immune-based cancer therapies. The critical hurdles identified by representatives of the collaborating organizations, now organized as the World Immunotherapy Council, are presented and discussed in this report. Some of the identified hurdles impede all investigators; others hinder investigators only in certain regions or institutions or are more relevant to specific types of immunotherapy or first-in-humans studies. Each of these hurdles can significantly delay clinical translation of promising advances in immunotherapy yet if overcome, have the potential to improve outcomes of patients with cancer.Journal of Translational Medicine 12/2011; 9(1):214. · 3.41 Impact Factor
