Cancer: A Genetic and Immunological Disorder

by Praveen Bommareddy

Goal: The primary goal of my blog series is to contribute to SITC’s mission in educating patients, clinicians, and researchers about the recent advancements in immunotherapy. I am particularly interested in the use of genetically modified (non-pathogenic) viruses as immune modulators for cancer treatment. 

In this introductory edition of my blog series, I would like to provide an overview of cancer immunotherapy and a brief description on why immunotherapies may not always work well due to heterogeneity in tumor phenotypes and various mechanisms that suppress immune response against cancers.

Target audience: Patients and their families, clinicians, and researchers.

Viruses come to help T cells in fighting tumors

by Dr. Saman Maleki

Oncolytic viruses are emerging as promising therapeutic agents in the fight against cancer.

Last year, the U.S. FDA approved Talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec)–a genetically modified Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 replicating in tumor cells and producing GM-CSF–for the local of treatment of patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma^1. Tumor cells often have a defective intrinsic antiviral response because of their immune evasive and neoplastic characteristics, which makes them ideal hosts for viral infections^2. Furthermore, viruses preferential targeted replication in cancer cells has shown acceptable safety profile in clinical trials^2.

Get to Know Sentinel Author: Praveen Bommareddy

(Editor's Note: The Sentinel, the official blog of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, will provide SITC Members a digital space to share their expertise and experience being in or around the field of cancer immunotherapy. To introduce these member authors to readers of The Sentinel, SITC will be publishing Q&As in the coming days.)

Bommareddy

Name: Praveen K Bommareddy   

           

Title: PhD candidate

Employer: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

When and why did you become a SITC member?

I became a SITC member in August 2016. I believe SITC is a great platform to get connected to many colleagues in the field of Cancer Immunotherapy and to be updated with the most recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy.