Journal of Translational Research

All submissions of the EM system will be redirected to Online Manuscript Submission System. Authors are requested to submit articles directly to Online Manuscript Submission System of respective journal.
Reach Us +441518081136

Perspective - Journal of Translational Research (2025) Volume 9, Issue 3

Cancer immunotherapy: Progress, challenges, future horizons

Aisha Khan*

Department of Immunology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

*Corresponding Author:
Aisha Khan
Department of Immunology
Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
E-mail: aisha.khan@aku.edu.pk

Received : 03-Jul-2025, Manuscript No. aatr-191; Editor assigned : 07-Jul-2025, PreQC No. aatr-191(PQ); Reviewed : 25-Jul-2025, QC No aatr-191; Revised : 05-Aug-2025, Manuscript No. aatr-191(R); Published : 14-Aug-2025 , DOI : 10.35841/aatr-9.3.191

Citation: Khan A. Cancer immunotherapy: Progress, challenges, future horizons. aatr. 2025;09(03):191.

Visit for more related articles at Journal of Translational Research

Introduction

This review explores the latest developments and clinical progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), highlighting their mechanisms, current applications across various cancers, and emerging strategies to overcome resistance. It discusses how these therapies reinvigorate anti-tumor immune responses, emphasizing their transformative impact on oncology and the challenges that still need addressing[1].

This article examines how CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, presenting it as a significant paradigm shift. It covers the foundational principles, clinical successes, challenges like toxicity and resistance, and future directions for optimizing this powerful living drug approach[2].

This review highlights significant advances in immunotherapy for solid tumors, detailing the expanded use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the emergence of novel combination therapies, and the exploration of new immune-modulating agents. It underscores the ongoing challenges and the promise of personalized approaches to improve patient outcomes[3].

This updated review provides comprehensive guidance on diagnosing and managing immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. It emphasizes prompt recognition and appropriate intervention strategies to mitigate toxicities, ensuring patients can continue to benefit from these crucial cancer therapies[4].

This article reviews the current status of neoantigen-based cancer immunotherapy, emphasizing its potential for highly personalized treatments. It discusses the methodologies for neoantigen identification, the progress of neoantigen vaccines in clinical trials, and the hurdles that must be overcome to bring these innovative therapies to wider clinical practice[5].

This systematic review delves into the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and a patient's response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. It highlights how microbial composition can influence therapeutic efficacy and toxicity, suggesting avenues for modulating the microbiome to improve immunotherapy outcomes[6].

This review explores the rationale behind combining various immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance anti-tumor responses and overcome resistance. It discusses successful combinations involving immune checkpoint inhibitors with other immunotherapies, targeted therapies, or conventional treatments, outlining strategies to optimize efficacy and manage toxicity[7].

This comprehensive review surveys emerging immunotherapeutic strategies beyond traditional checkpoint inhibitors, including novel cell therapies, oncolytic viruses, and bifunctional antibodies. It discusses the molecular mechanisms underpinning these approaches and their potential to expand the reach of immunotherapy to a broader range of cancers[8].

This article dissects the various molecular mechanisms that contribute to resistance against immunotherapy in cancer, including primary and acquired resistance. It explores factors such as alterations in antigen presentation, immune cell exclusion, and intrinsic tumor resistance pathways, offering insights into potential strategies to circumvent these challenges[9].

This review comprehensively evaluates the current landscape of biomarkers used to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. It discusses established markers like PD-L1 expression and tumor mutational burden, alongside emerging biomarkers and multimodal approaches, aiming to improve patient selection and personalize immunotherapy strategies[10].

 

Conclusion

Immunotherapy has fundamentally changed cancer treatment, with significant advances in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) and CAR T-cell therapy. ICIs work by reinvigorating anti-tumor immune responses, showing transformative impact across various cancers. CAR T-cell therapy, a powerful living drug approach, has revolutionized hematologic malignancies, despite challenges with toxicity and resistance. Efforts are ongoing to expand immunotherapy's reach, including its application in solid tumors through novel combinations and immune-modulating agents. Key areas of research focus on overcoming resistance mechanisms, which involve understanding alterations in antigen presentation and intrinsic tumor pathways. Managing immune-related adverse events is crucial for patient safety and continued therapy benefits. Personalized treatment strategies are gaining traction, driven by advancements in neoantigen-based therapies and the identification of predictive biomarkers like PD-L1 expression. The gut microbiome's role in influencing therapeutic efficacy and toxicity is also under investigation, offering avenues for modulation to improve outcomes. Beyond traditional ICIs, emerging strategies like novel cell therapies, oncolytic viruses, and bifunctional antibodies promise to broaden immunotherapy's application to more cancer types. This evolving landscape reflects a dynamic field continually seeking to enhance anti-tumor responses and improve patient outcomes through innovative and combined approaches.

References

  1. Stephen CW, Catherine RD, James PA. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: The Current Landscape and Clinical Progress. Cell. 2024;187(2):226-239.

    2. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  2. Michel S, Isabelle R, Renier JB. CAR T-cell Therapy: A Paradigm Shift in Cancer Treatment. Cell. 2024;187(2):240-256.

    3. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  3. Yoonah K, Drew SC, F. SH. Advances in Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(24):2280-2292.

    4. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  4. Igor P, Alaa D, Karim A. Management of immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors: an update. J Immunother Cancer. 2023;11(2):e006272.

    5. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  5. Patrick AO, Siwen H, Valsamo A. Neoantigen-Based Cancer Immunotherapy: Where Are We Now?. Immunity. 2024;60(2):147-162.

    6. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  6. Alessandra L, Riccardo G, Chiara T. The gut microbiome and response to immune checkpoint blockade: a systematic review. Eur J Cancer. 2023;186:1-13.

    7. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  7. Jedediah DW, Timothy AC, Sonia MN. Rational Combinations for Immune Checkpoint Blockade. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(24):2268-2279.

    8. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  8. Lei T, Xiao W, Xiaoyun S. Emerging Immunotherapeutic Strategies in Cancer: A Comprehensive Review. Front Oncol. 2023;13:1111003.

    9. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  9. Di Z, Yun L, Shanshan L. Molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance in cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022;7(1):367.

    10. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

  10. Prasanta D, Emanuele E, Domenica L. Biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor response: current knowledge and future directions. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(7):1774.

    11. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Get the App