Facing Immunotherapy

Facing Immunotherapy is for anyone whose life is affected by cancer and who is considering (or is receiving) immunotherapy. Written by leading physicians in their fields, Facing Immunotherapy combines top-tier medical information and compassionate counsel on the use and tolerability of immunotherapies, with a caring and sensible approach to the emotional aspects of living with cancer treatment and its complications. This book provides easily readable and trustworthy information, which is divided amongst twenty-six chapters that ask and answer pertinent questions about immunotherapy and its medical, surgical, and psychiatric/psychological components. A glossary of terms provides important background information to readers (e.g., about the disease, nutrition, diet, exercise, and risk-reduction); online resources and references are also offered. Each chapter is accompanied by selected reference and internet resources as well as illustrations and photographs.

This book provides patients and their physicians (especially “non-oncologist” health care providers) with a clear and concise introduction to cancer immunotherapy, which, unlike traditional forms of cancer therapy, acts by boosting the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. The unique features of cancer immunotherapy make its management, monitoring and side-effects different from those of traditional cancer therapy. Especially novel are the side effects of cancer immunotherapy, necessitating greater awareness for both patients and physicians in order to minimize complications of therapy. The patient-friendly, concise, easy-to-understand, and up-to-date knowledge presented in this book will inform patients about the benefits and risks of cancer immunotherapy, and help them and their care providers to understand how immunotherapy would control their unique disease. Researchers and academic professionals in the field of cancer immunotherapy will also find clear and useful information to help them communicate with patients or address unresolved problems. Some key features of the book are: Expertise. All editors and authors are scientists and oncologists specializing in cancer immunotherapy, and are involved in scientific discovery from the early stage of immune-checkpoint inhibitors to today’s daily patient care. Their insights, expertise and experience guarantee the high quality and authority in the science, medicine and practice of cancer immunotherapy. Patient-friendly. This book is written for cancer patients in order to meet their needs when considering immunotherapy. As an educational tool, this book will help the reader balance the risks and benefits based on both science and clinical facts, and therefore to make the best choice in receiving or withdrawing from immunotherapy. Disease Specificity. Cancer is a complicated disease involving multiple stages and pathology. Its response to immunotherapy is individualized and varies depending on cancer types. The authors’ expertise in treating different types of cancers, including melanoma, lung, kidney, bladder, and lymphoma, provides disease-specific insights in applying immunotherapy to each disease.

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer's handbook,SITC’s Guide to Managing Immunotherapy Toxicity, is a practical reference to managing side effects associated with FDA-approved cancer immunotherapy drugs. Separated into two parts, Part I contains chapter-based overviews of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the clinic, starting with anti-CTLA4 agents, anti-PD1/PD-L1 agents, and approved immunotherapeutic combinations. These chapters cover relevant mechanisms of action, indications, and toxicities seen while combating early, advanced, and metastatic stages in cancer patients. Part II is structured by common and uncommon toxicities that affect major organ sites throughout the body. It begins with a general summary of principles and management options followed by chapters focusing on specific toxicities such as rash and mucosal irritation, muscle and joint toxicity, diarrhea and colitis, pneumonitis, endocrine toxicities, neurological toxicities, cardiac toxicity, renal toxicity, hematologic toxicity, and ocular toxicities. Each chapter provides guidance on how to assess and treat the toxicity and how to support the patient through acute and chronic effects with detailed summary tables for quick reference. Part II concludes with chapters covering management of special patient populations, including patients with autoimmune disease and geriatric patients, treatment and management of fatigue, and a final chapter dedicated to cost effectiveness and the toll of financial toxicity on patients and caregivers. With chapters written by world-recognized leaders in the immuno-oncology field, this text provides thorough coverage of the toxicity and management of adverse effects for immune checkpoint inhibitors. It is an indispensable resource for clinical oncologists, emergency physicians, hospitalists and other medical practitioners in both the hospital and community clinic settings, especially as the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors becomes a fixture in oncology care. Key Features: Outlines strategies for treating high-risk patients facing an acute or chronic side effect to immunotherapy Provides numerous tables that condense and highlight pertinent information for quick reference Describes the various clinical presentations and toxic reactions caused by immunotherapy Purchase includes access to the eBook for use on most mobile devices or computer

Cancer Immunotherapy Principles and Practice, from the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), is the authoritative reference on cancer immunobiology and the immunotherapy treatments that harness the immune system to combat malignant disease. Featuring five sections and over 50 chapters covering the Basic Principles of Tumor Immunology, Cancer Immunotherapy Targets and Classes, Immune Function in Cancer Patients, Disease Specific Treatments and Outcomes, and Regulatory Aspects of Cancer Immunotherapy, this book covers all major topics that have shaped the development of immunotherapy and propelled it to its current place at the forefront of cancer treatment innovation. This volume is a comprehensive resource for oncologists and fellows, immunologists, cancer researchers, and related practitioners seeking understanding of the basic science and clinical applications of cancer immunotherapy. As well as presenting the evidence for immune-based cancer treatment, it positions immunotherapy in the context of other available cancer treatments and provides data on response rates, risks, and toxicities across a variety of diseases. Filled with detailed tables, and instructive illustrations, as well as key points for quick reference, Cancer Immunotherapy Principles and Practice simplifies a challenging and dynamic subject. Key Features: Clearly summarizes the basic principles and research supporting cancer immunotherapy clinical translation Contains expert guidance and treatment strategies for all immunotherapy classes and agents, including cell-based therapies, monoclonal antibodies, cytokine therapies, checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, adjuvant approaches, and treatment combinations Includes expert perspectives from leading authorities in the field Provides information on all FDA-approved immunotherapies, including clinical management and outcome data Discusses clinical aspects of immunotherapy for individual cancer types, including melanoma and other skin cancers, lung cancers, gynecologic cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, hematologic cancers, genitourinary cancers, head and neck cancers, sarcomas, brain and other CNS cancers, breast cancer, and pediatric malignancies. Explains regulatory aspects behind the development and approval of immunotherapy drugs Includes Online Access to the Digital Book

Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy provides a broad overview of several aspects of basic sciences, and clinical and therapeutic aspects of immunotherapy for ovarian cancer, as well as state-of-the-art information on molecular genetics and biology. Chapters are written by a team of expert contributors from around the world and explore topics such as antibody therapeutics for ovarian carcinoma, emerging serum biomarkers, ovarian cancer immunity, adoptive cell immunotherapy, the biology of dendritic cells, the role of growth factors, and more. Readers will also gain a better understanding of the molecular and cellular events that underlie ovarian cancer immunology. This book is an ideal resource for clinicians, basic medical scientists, graduate basic medical science students, and medical students caring for patients with ovarian cancer, including attending surgeons and physicians, and clinical fellows and residents in the disciplines of gynecologic oncology, medical oncology, and surgical oncology.

Leading investigators and clinicians detail the different mechanisms used by tumors to escape and impair the immune system and then spell out possible clinical strategies to prevent or reverse tumor-induced immune dysfunction. The authors review the mechanisms of immune dysfunction and evasion mechanisms in histologically diverse human tumors, focusing on tumor-induced molecular defects in T cells and antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells and tumors), that may serve as biomarkers for patient prognosis. Cutting-edge techniques are out-lined with the capacity to monitor the strength and quality of patients' immune responses using immunocytometry, MHC-peptide tetramers combined with apoptosis assay, ELISPOT assay, and detection of MHC-TAA peptide complexes on tumor cells.

This work will provide a historical perspective on tumor immunotherapy, discuss fundamental mechanisms of failed tumor rejection, look at passive strategies to boost anti-tumor immunity, as well as have an in-depth look at active strategies to boost anti-tumor immunity.