There are encouraging signs in our collective progress to leverage the immune system to treat pediatric
cancers. Here, we summarize interim successes in
cancer immunotherapy and opportunities to translate from the adult world to pediatrics, and highlight challenges that could benefit from additional development, focusing on solid
tumors. Just a decade ago, other than
antibodies targeting disialoganglioside (GD2) in
neuroblastoma, pediatric
cancer immunotherapy was mostly relegated to obscure preclinical studies in a few academic labs. Today there are numerous clinical trials of a variety of antibody, cellular, gene, and viral
therapies and
vaccines designed to either promote antitumor immunity or specifically attack validated
immunotherapy targets. Understanding those targets and their pediatric relevance is paramount. While much work is underway to evaluate the utility of numerous immunologic targets, the lack of regulatory approvals is emblematic of the challenges that remain. Herein we focus our review on the most promising targeted
immunotherapies in clinical trials for children.