In recent years, the rapidly evolving biomedical research landscape has led to increasing specialization across scientific disciplines and the emergence of therapeutic approaches that were once considered out of reach. For more than a decade, immunotherapy for cancer has taken center stage in this development. In particular, hematology has played a pioneering role in many of these breakthroughs with the introduction of novel immunotherapeutic approaches and cellular therapies for hematological conditions. In 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. This marked a major milestone, making CAR T-cell therapy one of the first gene therapies approved for cancer treatment. Since then, a variety of novel approaches have become available. Therefore, it is both timely and forward-thinking of the American Society of Hematology to expand its journal portfolio to include fields where these transformative developments have been most prominent. Today, we are proud to present the inaugural edition of Blood Immunology & Cellular Therapy, one of the new journals in the Blood portfolio.
The scope of this new journal covers cellular and noncellular immunotherapies for neoplastic and benign hematological conditions and the underlying immunology. Cellular and noncellular forms of immunotherapy offer distinct approaches to treating hematological conditions, each employing different mechanisms to modulate the immune system. Noncellular immunotherapy encompasses areas such as vaccination, monoclonal antibody treatment including bispecific antibodies and bispecific T-cell engagers, antibody-drug conjugates, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cellular immunotherapy linked to hematology encompasses treatments that harness the power of the immune system to target and eradicate hematological malignancies. It is frequently combined with gene therapy to include mainly CAR T cell, T-cell receptor, T-cell therapy, CAR-natural killer (NK) cell, and primary NK-cell therapy, either derived from autologous peripheral blood or allogeneic umbilical cord blood. Cellular immunotherapies also include mesenchymal stromal cells derived from various primary tissue sources or induced pluripotent stem cells, as recently clinically introduced. Within the scope of hematological conditions, gene therapy approaches include vector design and development, gene editing and delivery systems, ex vivo approaches such as hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy for primary immune deficiencies, β-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and metabolic disorders, as well as in vivo gene therapy such as for hemophilia.
General allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is not within the scope of Blood Immunology & Cellular Therapy, but selected topics related to the immunological aspects of allogeneic SCT, including graft rejection, graft-versus-leukemia effect, donor lymphocyte infusion, and graft-versus-host disease, may also be included. In addition, although general immunology and nonneoplastic immunological conditions are not within the scope, the use of cellular and immunotherapies for the treatment of nonmalignant immunological diseases, such as autoimmune disorders or organ transplantation, will be considered.
In addition to scientific topics, Blood Immunology & Cellular Therapy has the ambition to cover a broader range of topics that might be of interest to those involved in the translational development of immunotherapies. Therefore, we also welcome submissions related to regulatory science or regulatory updates that are relevant for bringing these therapies to patients. These include regulatory aspects with global coverage from major regulatory bodies or issues related to manufacturing.
Blood Immunology & Cellular Therapy is a peer-reviewed, online-only, and open-access journal, aiming at broad visibility and reach, fast dissemination of knowledge, and promotion of global access and inclusivity. We have just started building an editorial board to help us in shaping the journal and in encouraging new submissions. We hope that the specialized focus on immunotherapies and their underlying immunology, as well as on related nonscientific aspects of the translation development, will form an attractive format for researchers and clinical professionals working in this field.
