Immunotherapy for Pediatric Malignancies

The field of cancer immunotherapy has grown rapidly over the last decade, and is transforming the treatment of many cancers. This book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current immunotherapeutic strategies, and how these may be applicable to childhood cancers. The first part of the book reviews how the immune system recognizes cancer, and the various escape mechanisms that may prevent this controlling tumour growth. The importance of the tumour microenvironment and the challenges this may present to achieving effective immunotherapy are discussed. Monoclonal antibody, cellular, cytokine and vaccine therapies are all comprehensively reviewed, with particular focus on their potential application to paediatric cancers. Practical aspects of delivering such therapies to children, likely toxicities and potential biomarkers are considered. Finally, consideration is given to how, in the longer term, such therapies may be combined with conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.§§Edited by two distinguished paediatric oncologists with a collection of chapters from the most authoritative experts in cancer immunotherapy, this is an indispensable volume for paediatric oncologists and physicians working in childhood cancer care.§§