Hello JITC Readers,
Welcome to this month’s edition of the JITC Digest. As we move through September, for many it marks the beginning of the academic year. It also means the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs are just around the corner. Opportunities to interact with JITC will be taking place throughout the event, including a Meet-the-Editor session on Saturday, November 4th from 12:15 p.m. PT to 1:15 p.m. PT at the SITC booth and the recognition of JITC award recipients. Check back next month for the expanded details on JITC activities. I hope to see you in San Diego!
I am also proud to share the final publications that complete our special series on liquid biopsies. The review “Cell-free DNA approaches for cancer early detection and interception” by Jamie E. Medina et al recently published along with its corresponding viewpoint letter from Christian Rolfo and Alessandro Russo. Be sure to read their work and the full slate of articles in this special collection that offers insights on the biology, technologies, and clinical applications of liquid biopsies as they are increasingly utilized in cancer immunotherapy. Thank you to our fantastic Guest Editors, Dr. Valsamo Anagnostou and Dr. Mark Stewart, for their innovative approach and enthusiastic dedication in leading the development of this series. They are the backbone to this informative, engaging series.
There also continues to be plenty of exciting original research in JITC. Elizabeth Lee Carpenter et al present the results of a clinical trial that demonstrate the safety and efficacy of autologous tumor melanoma vaccines used in the adjuvant setting in resected stage III/IV melanoma patients and may improve disease-free and overall survival. Jared Ostmeyer and colleagues show how a novel metric called the T-cell tolerant fraction may serve as a predictor of clinically significant immune-related adverse events. Don’t miss these highlights and more in the latest Digest.
Regards,
James L. Gulley, MD, PhD, FACP
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Interim Editor-in-Chief