Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment by harnessing the body's immune system to target and eliminate tumor cells. These inhibitors, which include antibodies targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1, have shown remarkable efficacy in various cancer types, leading to durable responses and prolonged survival in patients who had limited treatment options. The success of ICIs in oncology has sparked a surge in research focused on understanding their mechanisms of action, identifying biomarkers for response, managing immune-related adverse events, and expanding their application to a broader range of malignancies.

However, despite the transformative impact of ICIs, many challenges remain. The majority of patients do not achieve complete responses, resistance to therapy is common, and the long-term effects of immune modulation are not fully understood. Ongoing research is crucial to optimize the use of ICIs, overcome resistance, and develop combination therapies that can enhance their efficacy.

This Collection aims to compile cutting-edge research and reviews on immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer, encompassing a wide range of topics that reflect the current state and future directions of this rapidly evolving field. The issue will include but is not limited to the following themes:

Mechanisms of Action: Exploration of how ICIs modulate immune responses against cancer, including molecular and cellular mechanisms.

Clinical Applications: Studies on the efficacy and safety of ICIs in various cancer types, including ongoing clinical trials and real-world evidence.

Biomarkers of Response and Resistance: Research on predictive biomarkers for ICI efficacy, including genetic, proteomic, and immunological factors.

Combination Therapies: Investigations into the synergistic effects of ICIs with other treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and other immunotherapies.

Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs): Studies focusing on the identification, prevention, and management of irAEs associated with ICIs.

Emerging Targets and Future Directions: Reviews and original research on novel immune checkpoint targets beyond PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, and innovative therapeutic strategies in development.

Ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges arising from the ever-growing implementation of highly innovative techniques, and how to best meet such challenges in order to ensure equitable, patient-centered access to the most effective personalized/precision medicine-based diagnostics/therapeutics approaches as they become available.

We believe that this Collection will not only provide valuable insights into the current challenges and opportunities associated with ICIs but also serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving cancer outcomes.

Keywords: immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer treatment, biomarkers, immune-related adverse events, immune checkpoint targets

Cancer genomics is an evolving field driven by advances in laboratory and computational technologies, enabling a detailed examination of the molecular and cellular aspects of cancer. This field goes beyond DNA analysis to include gene expression, proteins, and other molecular features, helping to detect crucial alterations that could lead to the disease. With the advent of new data types, enhanced data quality, and cheaper sequencing methods, researchers are achieving a comprehensive understanding of cancer's mechanisms. Identifying cancer-causing changes allows scientists to better grasp the molecular foundations of cancer growth, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. This knowledge is enhanced by clinical data on patient treatment responses, laboratory studies using cell lines and model organisms, and the analysis of large genomic datasets. Sharing these datasets globally is crucial for advancing cancer research, facilitating discoveries, and enabling precision medicine—a personalized treatment approach based on the patient's tumor genetics. Genomic insights are revolutionizing diagnosis and treatment, leading to the development of targeted therapies. These treatments specifically target cancer cell abnormalities, minimizing damage to normal cells and reducing toxicity compared to traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation. Examples include Imatinib for leukemia, Trastuzumab for breast cancer, and Erlotinib and Gefitinib for lung cancer, among others. Furthermore, cancer genomics is refining the classification of cancer types and subtypes based on genetic characteristics, offering patients more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments. This molecular taxonomy has already benefited patients with various cancers, such as breast cancer, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer, demonstrating the potential of precision medicine to improve care and treatment outcomes.

Keywords: cancer genomics, oncogenomics, genomic profiling, precision medicine, targeted therapies, personalized cancer treatment