J Transl Med. 2011 Dec 14;9(1):214. doi: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-214.

Defining the critical hurdles in cancer immunotherapy.

Fox BA, Schendel DJ, Butterfield LH, Aamdal S, Allison JP, Ascierto PA, Atkins MB, Bartunkova J, Bergmann L, Berinstein N, Bonorino CC, Borden E, Bramson JL, Britten CM, Cao X, Carson WE, Chang AE, Characiejus D, Choudhury AR, Coukos G, de Gruijl T, Dillman RO, Dolstra H, Dranoff G, Durrant LG, Finke JH, Galon J, Gollob JA, Gouttefangeas C, Grizzi F, Guida M, Håkansson L, Hege K, Herberman RB, Hodi FS, Hoos A, Huber C, Hwu P, Imai K, Jaffee EM, Janetzki S, June CH, Kalinski P, Kaufman HL, Kawakami K, Kawakami Y, Keilholtz U, Khleif SN, Kiessling R, Kotlan B, Kroemer G, Lapointe R, Levitsky HI, Lotze MT, Maccalli C, Maio M, Marschner JP, Mastrangelo MJ, Masucci G, Melero I, Melief C, Murphy WJ, Nelson B, Nicolini A, Nishimura MI, Odunsi K, Ohashi PS, O'Donnell-Tormey J, Old LJ, Ottensmeier C, Papamichail M, Parmiani G, Pawelec G, Proietti E, Qin S, Rees R, Ribas A, Ridolfi R, Ritter G, Rivoltini L, Romero PJ, Salem ML, Scheper RJ, Seliger B, Sharma P, Shiku H, Singh-Jasuja H, Song W, Straten PT, Tahara H, Tian Z, van Der Burg SH, von Hoegen P, Wang E, Welters MJ, Winter H, Withington T, Wolchok JD, Xiao W, Zitvogel L, Zwierzina H, Marincola FM, Gajewski TF, Wigginton JM, Disis ML.

Source

Earle A, Chiles Research Institute, Robert W, Franz Research Center, Providence Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA. foxb@foxlab.org

Abstract

Scientific discoveries that provide strong evidence of antitumor effects in preclinical models often encounter significant delays before being tested in patients with cancer. While some of these delays have a scientific basis, others do not. We need to do better. Innovative strategies need to move into early stage clinical trials as quickly as it is safe, and if successful, these therapies should efficiently obtain regulatory approval and widespread clinical application. In late 2009 and 2010 the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), convened an "Immunotherapy Summit" with representatives from immunotherapy organizations representing Europe, Japan, China and North America to discuss collaborations to improve development and delivery of cancer immunotherapy. One of the concepts raised by SITC and defined as critical by all parties was the need to identify hurdles that impede effective translation of cancer immunotherapy. With consensus on these hurdles, international working groups could be developed to make recommendations vetted by the participating organizations. These recommendations could then be considered by regulatory bodies, governmental and private funding agencies, pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to facilitate changes necessary to accelerate clinical translation of novel immune-based cancer therapies. The critical hurdles identified by representatives of the collaborating organizations, now organized as the World Immunotherapy Council, are presented and discussed in this report. Some of the identified hurdles impede all investigators; others hinder investigators only in certain regions or institutions or are more relevant to specific types of immunotherapy or first-in-humans studies. Each of these hurdles can significantly delay clinical translation of promising advances in immunotherapy yet if overcome, have the potential to improve outcomes of patients with cancer.