Review Article: Immunotherapy for Pediatric Malignancies: Benefits and Beyond

Investigating factors for childhood malignancies is distinctly more difficult than doing so for adults, as childhood exposure to environmental stimuli, occupational hazards, and age-related geriatric risks is less prevalent. A synergistic approach involving surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy has been the "gold standard treatment" for combating childhood malignancies. Nevertheless, these strategies are associated with various side effects, with nonspecific cytotoxicity being the major setback observed in patients under therapy. For this reason, hardcore intense chemotherapy for pediatric malignancies has remained a "Pandora's box" in cancer management. Understanding the mechanisms behind immune surveillance of tumors, immune escape mechanisms, and antitumor immune responses has enabled the development of novel methods and approaches in pediatric cancer therapy. This review will focus on the potential of immunotherapy in combating pediatric cancers, available strategies, and limitations of current approaches.