The greatest success in cancer treatment in the last decade can undoubtedly be expressed as the discovery of T-cell targeted immunomodulators that block CTLA-4 and PD-1 or PD-L1 immune control points. ”Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)”, which were first used as cancer treatment in 2011, opened a new era in the treatment of cancer patients. T cell targeted immunomodulators are now used alone or in combination with chemotherapy as first or second line treatment agents for about 50 types of cancers. These agents are approved for advanced or metastatic malignant melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck squamous cancers, urothelial carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, esophageal cancer, cancer patients with abnormal DNA ratio (MSI-High), classical Hodgkin lymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and have been used in the treatment of many solid and hematological cancers. Indications for use continue to expand rapidly. In recent years, their efficacy have also been demonstrated in the adjuvant treatment of early-stage malignant melanoma, NSCLC and renal cell cancer.

In the last decade, immunotherapy has rapidly taken its place in cancer treatment guidelines with stunning and impressive results, and ICI have begun to be used in the early stages of many solid tumors, especially melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and lung cancer. Studies on new ICI agents, targeted drugs and their combinations are also continuing rapidly. The use of ICI, both in the early and advanced stages, alone or in combination with chemotherapies and targeted therapies, is increasing day by day. In this book, the optimal use of ICI, which have made dazzling developments in recent years, both in advanced and early stages, is explained in details by our professors who are experts in their fields. I hope it will be a useful and productive resource for everyone and I wish you a pleasant reading…

With my love and respect.

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Nahit ŞENDUR
Editor
Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Türkiye