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Liao. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2017;3:217 Journal of
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2017.21
Cancer Metastasis and Treatment

www.jcmtjournal.com
Topic: Cancer Immunotherapy Open Access

Introduction to the Special Issue on Cancer

Immunotherapy

Shuen-Kuei Liao
1,2
1 The PhD Program of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China.
2 Department of Research and Development, Vectorite Biomedica Inc., New Taipei City 221, Taiwan, China.

Correspondence to: Prof. Shuen-Kuei Liao, The PhD Program of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110,
Taiwan, China. E-mail: liaosk@h.tmu.edu.tw
How to cite this article: Liao SK. Introduction to the Special Issue on Cancer Immunotherapy. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2017;3:217.

Article history: Received: 2 Oct 2017 Accepted: 18 Oct 2017 Published: 31 Oct 2017

The biotechnology revolution started in early 1970s As Guest Editor of this special issue, I would like
following advances in molecular biology, specifically: to express my sincere thanks to those who have
(1) sophisticated methodologies for manipulating DNA contributed a series of articles to the issue, each
in mammalian cells; (2) hybridoma technology for the representing either a commentary, original article, or
generation of preselected monoclonal antibodies; review. I was so pleased that the birth of this issue which
(3) genomic and recombinant DNA technology that was finally turned into reality. Without the sustained
allowed the production of large quantities of specific enthusiasm and persistence of all the contributors and
proteins; and (4) improved understanding of cancer editorial staff, the completion of this issue would not
immunology. In the 1980s, we further witnessed have been possible.
another wave of technological revolution which
includes our ability to molecularly clone many growth DECLARATIONS
factors, cytokines and immunogenic molecules, and
to discover immune checkpoint molecules such as Authors’ contributions
cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4, programmed death 1 S.K. Liao contributed solely to the paper.
and programmed death ligand-1 and their inhibitors, to
develop various vaccines (dendritic cells, personalized Financial support and sponsorship
human leukocyte antigen-binding peptides and RNA None.
mutanomes), and to expand and/or genetically modify
effector cells for adoptive cell based immunotherapy, Conflicts of interest
such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. There There are no conflicts of interest.
are major scientific, clinical and regulatory hurdles that
still need to be overcome to bring the full potential Patient consent
clinical benefits of immunotherapy to cancer patients, Not applicable.
particularly when an individualized approach is under
consideration. The next 20 years should be very Ethics approval
exciting period to the development of this field. Not applicable.

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