“Tumor immunology meets oncology” (TIMO) X, May 23–24, 2014, Halle/Saale, Germany

Excerpt

This article reports on the Xth “Tumor immunology meets oncology” (TIMO) symposium held at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Halle, Germany, from the 23–24 of May 2014. The topics (1) biomarkers, immune signatures and tumor suppression, (2) tumor cell biology and immune evasion, (3) NK cells and anti-tumor response, (4) adoptive cell therapy (ACT), such as chimeric antibody receptors (CARs), T cell receptor (TCR) modulation, adoptive T cell transfer and DC vaccines, (5) novel immunotherapies and (6) targeted therapies and resistance had attracted clinicians and researchers from different nations. The recent progress in basic, preclinical and translational research that impact on the standard and novel treatment strategies for cancer patients was discussed. In particular, immunotherapies have rekindled interest and obtained broad attention due to their break through in cancer therapy. It becomes more and more evident that not only CD8⁺ T cells, but also CD4⁺ T cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), dendritic cells (DC) and NK cells as a part of the tumor microenvironment either directly or indirectly orchestrate the tumor host interaction. …