This volume details key protocols for developing strategies in immunotherapy. Chapters guide the readers through protocols related to various DNA, RNA and protein methods to reprogram the immune system, immune cells, analyzing the effect of the reprogrammed cells, and key methods to consider and analyze patients enrolled in clinical trials with novel immunotherapy regimens. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Cell Reprogramming for Immunotherapy: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

Topic Editor Dr. Lewis Shi received financial support from Varian Medical System, Inc. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.

This volume illustrates the salient aspects of cancer biology relevant to the successful implementation of immunotherapy. Topics include enhancement of antigen-specific immune responses by anti-cancer vaccines, modulation of the function of T cells within the tumor microenvironment, and the effects of genetic, epigenetic, developmental, and environmental determinants on T cell function. Other topics covered include the ex vivo expansion of T or other immune cells and their genetic modification or reprogramming to increase their ability to survive and expand when adoptively transferred back to the patients. Specific attention is devoted to the genetic manipulation of T cells through the introduction of re-directed T cell receptors, chimeric antibody receptors, and other genetic manipulation aimed at improving their effectiveness as anti-cancer agents. Furthermore, the revolutionary role of checkpoint inhibitors and their potential in combination with other immunotherapeutic approaches or with standard chemo and radiation therapy are extensively discussed.

This new volume reviews current progress on different approaches of in vivo reprogramming technology. Leaders in the field discuss how in vivo cell lineage reprogramming can be used for tissue repair and regeneration in different organs, including brain, spinal cord, pancreas, liver and heart. Recent studies on in vivo cell reprogramming towards pluripotency are reviewed; examples are given to show its potential in regenerative medicine. In each chapter, the regenerative potential of different in vivo reprogramming approaches is discussed in detail. More specifically, how different tissue failures or damages can be treated with this technology is explained. Examples from various animal models are given and the regenerative potential of in vivo reprogramming is compared to that of cell transplantation studies. The last chapter discusses current challenges of these preclinical studies and gives suggestions in order to improve the current strategies. Future directions are indicated for the transition of in vivo reprogramming technology to clinical settings. This is among the first books in the literature which specifically focuses on the in vivo reprogramming technology in regenerative medicine and these chapters collectively cover one of the most important and exciting topics of regenerative medicine.

Successes and Challenges of NK Immunotherapy: Increasing Anti-tumor Efficacy describes the unique therapeutic applications of NK cells to fight cancers and eliminate the bulk and subset of cancer stem cells responsible for metastasis, relapse and recurrences. The book provides information on the development, engineering, mechanisms of action, response to various preclinical models, and applications in various clinical trials. Sections cover the development of highly engineered cytotoxic NK cells, their mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical applications, the development and application of CAR-NK cells, and new NK-drug conjugates, also emphasizing that activated NK cells can target and kill highly resistant cancer stem cells. Written by the leading experts on NK immunotherapy worldwide, this is a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians and members of the biomedical field who are interested in understanding novel and efficient therapies to fight cancers. Discusses the unique developmental applications of NK immunotherapy against cancers, which differs greatly from other types of immunotherapies Provides up-to-date and highly relevant information through chapters written by the leading researchers in the field Presents a significant number of schematic diagrams for easy understanding and reproducibility

Delivery Technologies for Immuno-Oncology: Volume 1: Delivery Strategies and Engineering Technologies in Cancer Immunotherapy examines the challenges of delivering immuno-oncology therapies. Immuno-oncology (IO) is a growing field of medicine at the interface of immunology and cancer biology leading to development of novel therapeutic approaches, such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) and immune checkpoint blockade antibodies, that are clinically approved approaches for cancer therapy. Although currently approved IO approaches have shown tremendous promise for select types of cancers, broad application of IO strategies could even further improve the clinical success, especially for diseases such as pancreatic cancer, brain tumors where the success of IO so far has been limited. Nanotechnology-based targeted delivery strategies could improve the delivery efficiency of IO agents as well as provide additional avenues for novel therapeutic and vaccination strategies. Additionally, a number of locally-administered immunogenic scaffolds and therapeutic strategies, such as the use of STING agonist, could benefit from rationally designed biomaterials and delivery approaches. Delivery Technologies for Immuno-Oncology: Volume 1: Delivery Strategies and Engineering Technologies in Cancer Immunotherapy creates a comprehensive treaty that engages the scientific and medical community who are involved in the challenges of immunology, cancer biology, and therapeutics with possible solutions from the nanotechnology and drug delivery side. Comprehensive treaty covering all aspects of immuno-oncology (IO) Novel strategies for delivery of IO therapeutics and vaccines Forecasting on the future of nanotechnology and drug delivery for IO

Metabolism of glucose, lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides represents the fundamental capability of host to utilize distinct nutrients and energy to support diverse function of different cell lineages. Cancer cells undergo the Warburg Effect to adapt to the microenvironment composed by stromal cells and immune cells. The crosstalk among cancer cells and immune cells orchestrate tumor progression. In the tumor microenvironment, immune cells also show metabolic reprogramming. For example, naive or memory T cells switch from the oxidation of fatty acids to glycolysis and glutaminolysis after activation; meanwhile massive glucose and glutamine are transported into cells to meet their metabolic demands. Defective glucose or glutamine metabolism impairs the differentiation and expansion of helper T cells. The molecular pathways that control immune cell metabolism and function are intimately linked. Understanding such metabolic reprogramming of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment could offer new directions in manipulation of peripheral immune responses. Recent findings in immune cell metabolism hold the promising possibilities by metabolic manipulation of immune cells towards clinical therapeutics for treating cancer. This Research Topic includes updated findings and views in the metabolism of cancer cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.