Advances in cancer immunotherapy and future directions in personalized medicine

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized oncologic treatment by harnessing and reprogramming the immune system to target malignant cells. This review provides a comprehensive picture of modern approaches to immunotherapy-based treatment strategies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), chimeric antigen receptor T cells, mRNA vaccines, and biomaterials-based platforms, with a focus on their translational value and application to precision medicine. Emerging insights into the tumor microenvironment, immune resistance mechanisms, and T-cell subpopulation dynamics (e.g., γδ T cells, exhausted CD8⁺ T cells) are analyzed to elucidate immunotherapy response variability. Biomaterials such as injectable scaffolds, nanogels, and artificial antigen-presenting cells enable localized and sustained immune modulation, improving delivery precision and therapeutic efficacy. Personalized approaches, including neoantigen vaccine development and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted biomarker prediction, are rapidly advancing individualized treatment regimens. Clinical trials illustrate how combination strategies with ICIs, chemotherapy, and nanomedicine enhance patient survival. Despite challenges including immune-related adverse events, manufacturing complexity, and global access disparities, integration of AI and multi-omics platforms promises to optimize patient stratification and therapeutic outcomes. This evolving paradigm positions personalized immunotherapy at the forefront of future oncologic care.