Highlights of the First International "Immunotherapy in Pediatric Oncology: Progress and Challenges" Meeting JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY Capitini, C. M., Cooper, L. J., Egeler, R. M., Handgretinger, R., Locatelli, F., Sondel, P. M., Mackall, C. L. 2009; 31 (4): 227-234

Abstract

The first annual conference on immunotherapy in pediatric oncology was held in Bethesda, MD, from September 9 to 10, 2008 to discuss the state-of-the-art of immunotherapeutic strategies currently being explored in pediatric oncology. Major topics included targeting cell surface receptors, understanding and improving T-cell-based therapies, augmenting innate immune strategies, and enhancing graft-versus-leukemia for pediatric malignancies. As can be seen in the summaries of the individual presentations, significant progress has been made in developing preclinical models of pediatric tumors and a variety of novel immunobiologic therapies are approaching, or already in, the clinic. Although there is much excitement about the potential utility of these agents, a great deal of challenges lie ahead in improving the efficacy of each of these modalities and getting them to patients in a timely fashion. The resulting discussions will hopefully lead to new collaborations and insight for further translational and clinical studies.

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