Preface

It is my honor as Editor-in-Chief to present the first volume of Cancer Immunology Connect, a new peer-reviewed journal focused on the rapidly advancing fields of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. The aim of this first volume and of subsequent publications is to improve our insight into the role of the immune system in the development and progression of cancer, and discover how immune systems can be manipulated to target and eliminate tumors, thereby enhancing clinical responses.

During the past years, cancer immunotherapy has evolved from being a potential idea and concept to a clinical reality, changing the landscape of treatment for several patients. We have observed unprecedented responses in cancers that seemed to be untreatable, ranging from immune checkpoint inhibitors to CAR T-cell therapies. However, several challenges need to be addressed, including tumor heterogeneity and immune resistance to biomarker development, as well as toxicities that are immune-related. Such intricacies require a platform for rigorous critical discussions, scientific exchange, and the dissemination of novel discoveries.

This volume includes 7 original and review articles, which reflect on both the depth and diversity of the field of cancer immunology. These studies cover varied topics such as immune evasion mechanisms, tumor microenvironment, cancer vaccines, and prognostic biomarkers, which demonstrate the dedication of the journal to covering pioneering research from basic science to translational innovation. Below is a summary of these studies:

1. Neoantigen-Based Cancer Vaccines: Current Innovations, Challenges and Future Directions in Personalized Immunotherapy. This particular review article provides a thorough discussion on neoantigen-based cancer vaccines, along with asserting emphasis on innovation in the field, challenges, and future perspectives. 
2. Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Relapse After Transplant. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of current and future strategies to prevent relapse of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia following allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
3. CRISPR-Cas9 is Revolutionizing AML Treatment as a Novel Therapy. This review article delves into CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, offering great advances for the treatment of this aggressive tumor.
4. Soluble Biomarkers as Predictors of Response to Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)-Insights from the Tumor Microenvironment Perspective. This review article comprehensively presents important data and insights on the soluble biomarkers, including immune checkpoints, exosomes, and cytokines as prognostic biomarkers in NSCLC.
5. Characteristics of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Patients with Benign and Malignant Sinonasal Neoplasms. This original article investigated TILs in sinonasal tumors, shedding light on the importance of characterizing different cell subsets and molecules in the tumor tissues as prognostic biomarkers in cancer patients.
6. Association of Expression of Immune Checkpoints in Tumor-Infiltrating CD4+ T Lymphocytes with Disease-Free Survival in Colorectal Cancer Patients. Another original article investigated the expression of different immune checkpoints in colorectal tumor-infiltrating CD4+ T cells, highlighting the significance of investigating multiple immune checkpoint expressions to determine the immune cell subpopulations that are associated with patient prognoses.
7. Fatty Allies: How Short-Chain Fatty Acids Turn the Tumor Microenvironment Against Cancer. This mini review discusses short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), highlighting the potential to integrate them with cancer immunotherapy.

As we launch this journal, we are committed to scientific excellence, integrity, and inclusivity. We are also honored to support a community of researchers dedicated to understanding the tumor microenvironment and improving immunotherapeutic efficacy.

We warmly invite researchers in the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy to join us on this exciting journey by sharing their insights and data to collectively push the boundaries in the field. Our mission is to publish high-impact research, critical reviews, and innovative translational studies that bridge laboratory science and clinical application. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from immunologists, oncologists, computational biologists, clinicians, and industry leaders committed to decoding and directing the immune response against cancer.