Key concepts covered include:

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• Describe the role of the immune system in fighting cancer
• Define the terms innate immunity and acquired immunity
• Describe what T-cells are and their role in the immune system
• Understand the process of immune elimination, editing, and escape
• Describe how CDK inhibitors work at a cellular level
• Give an overview of the basic immunobiology of CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors
• Describe what immune-related adverse events are and why they happen
• Understand what (CAR) T-cell therapy is and the processes involved
• Name the different types of cancer vaccine available
• Describe the challenges facing biomarker discovery
• Describe the emerging biomarkers for CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1
• Understand the scope of research in novel technologies that are emerging
• Describe the key factors of patient education for immune-oncology
• Describe why melanoma is a model tumour for immunotherapy
• Understand the key developments in immunotherapy treatment for melanoma
• Understand the use of checkpoint inhibitors in the adjuvant setting
• Understand the immunogenic nature of bladder cancer
• Describe the immune response of bladder cancer observed in clinical trials
• Be aware of the future directions of research, the challenges, and gaps in knowledge
• Understand the immunogenic nature of lung cancer
• Describe the immune response of lung cancer observed in clinical trials
• Be aware of the future directions of research, the challenges, and gaps in knowledge
• Understand the immunogenic nature of head and neck cancer
• Describe the immune response of head and neck cancer observed in clinical trials
• Be aware of the future directions of research, the challenges, and gaps in knowledge
• Understand the immunogenic nature of colorectal cancer
• Describe the immune response of colorectal cancer observed in clinical trials
• Be aware of the future directions of research, the challenges, and gaps in knowledge
• Understand the immunogenic nature of liver cancer
• Describe the immune response of liver cancer observed in clinical trials
• Be aware of the future directions of research, challenges, and gaps in knowledge
• Understand the immunogenic nature of renal cancer
• Describe the immune response of renal cancer observed in clinical trials
• Be aware of the future directions of research, challenges, and gaps in knowledge
• Give an overview of the cancer immunity cycle
• Describe the rationale for combination immunotherapy
• Name the current combination strategies being explored
• Describe methods for improving future combination strategies
• Name the most common side effects associated with immunotherapy treatment
• Define what immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are and how to manage them
• Be familiar with the NCCN and ASCO Guidelines for managing side effects and irAEs
• Understand the key considerations in managing special groups of patients i.e. elderly patients
• Name the five current value frameworks and their limitations
• Define the difference between value vs cost
• Understand the perspectives of the patient, payer, and industry
• Give an overview of the current cancer immunotherapies
• Define what are next-generation sequencing technologies for immunotherapy
• Describe the future research needed in the field of immune-oncology
• Give an overview of combination strategies of IOI with anti-cancer therapies
• Describe the rationale for combinations of IOI with other anti-cancer therapies
• Describe how chemotherapy can work with immunotherapy to evoke better responses to treatment
• Describe methods for improving future combination strategies