Immunotherapy is designed to eliminate cancer cells without any harm to the normal host cells. The concept to eliminate cancerous cells by “using” the host immune system was proposed more than 100 years ago. Cellular immunity contributes to control carcinogenesis and in most cases is responsible for the immune escape of tumor cells. On the other hand the activation of the “effective” immune arm is a valid tool to combat cancer. The antitumor immune response involves several mechanisms of adaptive and innate immunity, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), antibodies, and natural killer and dendritic cells. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the increased effective immunity in the tumor masses correlates with an improved prognosis/survival. However, the clinical outcome has been often disappointing leading clinicians to associate the immunotherapy with the classical antitumor chemotherapy to fight cancer despite all the related side effects. The failure of the immune system is associated with several mechanisms: (1) low immunogenicity of cancer that downregulates the expression of tumor antigens so that it could disable the use of specific antibodies; (2) expression of immunosuppressive factors by the tumor cell; (3) limited infiltration of CTLs due to the lower expression of adhesion molecules by the tumor blood vessels; (4) immunoregulatory mechanisms mediated by T regulatory cells (Treg), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and cytokines that hamper the antitumor immunity. Based on these findings, novel preclinical and clinical studies have been approached.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that approach how the immunotherapy and the recent advances in this field can impact cancer development/progression. We are particularly interested in articles describing novel immunotherapies, advances in molecular and cellular diagnostics, and new insights into cancer treatments using animal models. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Novel therapeutic tools to target inflammation and immunity in cancer
• Recent developments in the modulation of DCs, NK, and T cell activity
• Recent advances in the antitumor activity of specific immune-depleting antibodies
• Advances in novel monoclonal antibodies that target immune cells and chemokines/cytokines or their receptors
• Advances in the adoptive transfer of immune cells therapy

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jir/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/jir/iic/ according to the following timetable: