In this focused series, we celebrate the success of T-cell targeted agents and provide a comprehensive overview of challenges with cancer immunotherapy. Discussed topics include immune-related adverse events and financial toxicities, safety concerns in patients with pre-existing immune dysfunction, current and emerging biomarkers of response along with a detailed discussion on the role of the gut microbiome in modulating response to ICI. Other reviewed topics include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy and ICI in lymphoid malignancies, clinical studies exploring ways to turn immunologically inert “cold” sarcomas “hot’’ and intralesional agents in the treatment of malignant melanoma.

Disclosure:
The focused issue “Cancer Immunotherapy: Recent Advances and Challenges” was commissioned by the editorial office, Annals of Translational Medicine without any sponsorship or funding. Umang Swami and Mohammed Milhem are serving as the unpaid Guest Editors for the focused issue.