Jane de Lartigue, PhD

Since the identification of the role of the JAK kinase family&nbsp;in the late 1980s, awareness of this&nbsp;has grown significantly. These tyrosine<br /> kinases have been proven to transmit a variety of signals into the cells with many biological consequences, adding to the interest in the targetability of the JAK pathway. However,&nbsp;better understanding of the complexities of JAK signaling are being evaluated in clinical trials.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells have hit the prime time, with 2 FDA approvals already for this class of cellbased therapy. Undoubtedly this will be a game changer for patients with B-cell malignancies who have a small number of treatment options; however, questions regarding the realworld application of CAR T-cell therapies remain.

Metastatic disease accounts for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Ensuring a definitive diagnosis and the most effective treatment in a timely fashion is essential for extending life expectancy.

The 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) remains dismal. Liver metastases are a particularly common occurrence, developing in approximately half of all patients with colorectal cancer.

For nearly 2 decades, researchers have been exploring B-cell–specific antigens in hopes of developing a new anticancer target that could surpass the success of CD20-targeting agents.

Treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—which includes adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma—has traditionally consisted of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Over the past two decades, there has been a shift away from indiscriminate cell-killing by anticancer agents toward the development of more specific drugs that target key aspects of cancer cell biology.