Key Sessions and Opportunities for Pharmacists at the AACR Immunotherapy Conference

The field of cancer immunotherapy has transformed dramatically, evolving from a fringe area of oncology research to a cornerstone of oncology treatment. Pharmacists are at the forefront of this revolution, optimizing therapies, managing immune-related adverse effects, and ensuring patients receive the best possible care.

As the field continues to expand, the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Immunotherapy (IO) Conference, held February 23-26, 2025, in Los Angeles, California, presents a unique opportunity for pharmacists to engage with cutting-edge research, explore novel treatment strategies, and connect with key leaders driving innovation in the immuno-oncology field.

AACR will convene experts from across the immuno-oncology landscape at this inaugural event, titled AACR IO: Discovery and Innovation in Cancer Immunology: Revolutionizing Treatment through Immunotherapy. The program will feature discussions on advancements in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cell-based immunotherapies, cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, and emerging concepts, such as glycoimmunology. For pharmacists working in oncology, this meeting provides the opportunity to gain insights into the future of cancer treatment and learn how new advancements in the field may impact clinical practice.

Highlights of the AACR IO Conference

Immune checkpoint inhibitors interacting with lymphoma cells. Image Credit: © Green Creator - stock.adobe.com

The conference will open with a session featuring Nobel Laureate James P. Allison, PhD, FAACR, and Arlene Sharpe, MD, PhD, FAACR, who pioneered research into CTLA-4, the first critical immune checkpoint to be targeted therapeutically. This discovery paved the way for today’s widespread use of ICIs, fundamentally altering the treatment landscape for many cancers. Allison’s session is titled “Celebrating 30 years of CTLA-4,” and Sharpe’s is titled “The biology behind PD-1 checkpoint blockade.”

“I never expected the way it would take over,” Allison said in an AACR statement. “Before long, immunology is going to be a part of every treatment combination, and I think we’re ready to learn how to make that happen. The only way to accomplish that is to bring everybody together.”

Advancing Immuno-oncology: The Role of Pharmacists

As immunotherapy expands beyond ICIs, pharmacists will play an increasing role in optimizing these treatments. The conference will highlight several promising areas:

• Cell-Based Therapies: CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized hematologic malignancies, and new developments are expanding its use into solid tumors. Experts such as Carl June, MD, FAACR, from the University of Pennsylvania, and Crystal Mackall, MD, FAACR, from Stanford Medicine, will discuss advancements in engineered T-cell therapies and the potential for new indications in a keynote session on Tuesday, February 25.
• Cancer Vaccines: With personalized therapeutic vaccines targeting tumor-specific neoantigens on the horizon, pharmacists will likely be involved in staying ahead of evolving administration protocols, patient selection criteria, and combination strategies. A session titled “Personalized cancer vaccines: Encouraging results and new opportunities” will shed light on the future for this space.
• Microbiome and Immunotherapy: Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD, from the University of Chicago, will present on the role of gut and tumor microbiota in modulating immune responses in a session titled “Mechanisms of modulation of anti-tumor immunity by the commensal microbiota.” Melody Smith, MD, MS, of Stanford Medicine, will also present on the impact of the intestinal microbiome on CAR T cell therapy in a session titled “Interrogating the impact of the intestinal microbiome on CAR T cell therapy,” with insights from this session shared in a video interview with Pharmacy Times.
• Glycoimmunology: This rapidly developing field explores how sugar molecules (glycans) regulate immune activity. Jessica Stark, PhD, of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, will present research on targeting glycans as a novel immune checkpoint approach in a session titled “Antibody lectin chimeras for glyco-immune checkpoint blockade.”

Early-Career and Professional Development Opportunities

For pharmacists in training and those seeking to deepen their expertise, AACR IO offers networking and education opportunities. Mentorship sessions and attending poster discussions can help provide an opportunity for early-career pharmacists to connect with the next generation of leaders in oncology pharmacy.

Conference attendees listen to a speaker. Image Credit: © spyrakot - stock.adobe.com

Stark, reflecting on her early-career experience, notes the importance of young researchers and clinicians taking part in opportunities present at conferences such as AACR IO. “I especially encourage early-career researchers to attend this meeting and get involved in this space because it will be our findings and breakthroughs that help us make immunotherapy work for all cancer patients,” Stark said in an AACR statement

Join the Conversation in Los Angeles

AACR IO is positioned to help leaders in immuno-oncology connect so they can advance the field immunotherapy and its integration into clinical practice. For pharmacists, AACR IO offers the opportunity to stay ahead of advancements in basic, translational, and clinical research in immunology, inflammation, and immunotherapies for cancer.

REFERENCE

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). AACR IO: Revolutionizing Treatment through Immunotherapy. AACR website. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/aacr-meeting-news/aacr-io-revolutionizing-treatment-through-immunotherapy/