[CII Roster]

The Cancer Immunopathology and Immunotherapy [CII] Study Section reviews applications addressing immunologic therapies of cancer and modulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses to cancer cells.  This includes in vitro studies, the evaluation of immunotherapeutic strategies in preclinical models, and translational studies leading to pilot and/or phase-1 clinical trials.

Specific areas covered by CII include:

Immunotherapies:

• Development and testing of tumor vaccines: including cell-based vaccines, tumor antigen-based vaccines, DNA vaccines, recombinant viral and bacterial vaccines, and vaccines using genetically modified tumor cells.
• Dendritic cell-based therapies to induce or amplify tumor immunity.
• Assessment of immune response to tumor antigens in cancer patients.
• Use of antibodies, conjugated antibodies, or antibody fragments to target tumor cells in vivo or to modulate immune response to cancer cells.
• Autologous, syngeneic, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as part of cancer treatment.
• Development and testing of methods and models of autologous, syngeneic, and allogeneic immune responses to cancer.
• Cytokine or chemokine therapy to modulate innate or adaptive immune responses to tumors.
• Gene therapy to modulate tumor immune responses.
• Adoptive cellular therapies with immune cells.
• Drug-induced modulation of immune responses in cancer patients.

Biological therapies as they affect host anti-tumor responses:

• Immune modulation with growth factors and growth factor antagonists in model systems of tumors or in patients with cancer.
• Use of signal agonists and antagonists that affect immune responses to tumors (e.g., anti-CTLA-4, CD40-ligand).
• Use of protein, DNA, and RNA biological response modifiers, such as ribozymes and anti-sense oligonucleotides.

Mechanisms of tumor resistance and escape from immune recognition or killing:

• Modulation of tumor antigen processing and presentation.
• Alteration of susceptibility of tumors to innate and adaptive immunologic responses.
• Tumor-induced immune suppression and tolerance.

CII has the following shared interests within the ONC IRG:

• With Tumor Microenvironment [TME]: In general, studies of the tumor microenvironment could be assigned to TME; studies of modulation of the immune response within the tumor microenvironment could be assigned to CII.
  
  
• With Cancer Biomarkers [CBSS]: In general, the development of new approaches to diagnosing cancer could be assigned to CBSS; however, the development of novel targets for immunotherapy could be assigned to CII.
  
  
• With Radiation Therapeutics and Biology [RTB]: Studies focusing on the radiotherapeutic effects of treatment are more appropriately assigned to RTB; studies of radio-conjugated antibodies that focus on immunologic targeting could be assigned to CII.
  
  
• With Developmental Therapeutics [DT]:  In general, studies focusing on biologic agents and gene therapy approaches for treating cancer could be assigned to DT; studies examining the use of biologic agents and gene therapy approaches to manipulate immune function could be assigned to CII.
  
  
• With Clinical Oncology [CONC]:  Studies focusing primarily on immunotherapy trials in patients are more appropriately assigned to CONC.  Studies emphasizing the development of immunotherapeutic approaches that may include translation and development of pilot studies or phase-1 trials could be assigned to CII.

CII has the following shared interests outside the ONC IRG:

• With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: In general, basic studies of tumor immunity and immune surveillance could be assigned to IMM; translational studies that include the development or testing of immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer treatment could be assigned to CII.
  
  
• With Organ-system IRGs: In general, translational studies of immunotherapeutic approaches (including stem cell transplantation) to cancer treatment or to modulate tumor immunity could be assigned to CII.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: In general, immuno-therapy studies that focus on tumors of the CNS could be assigned to BDCN; studies that are applicable to several different tumors could be assigned to CII.