We are living in very exciting times in the context of molecular oncology and in particular in the field of immuno-oncology. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between the tumour and the immune system is revealing an attractive set of novel therapeutic approaches to treat cancer. With some pronounced recent successes in this field, this is fuelling aggressive investigation, leading to new questions and challenges.

Following the highly successful first and second edition, Defence is the Best Attack 2021 will be the third EACR conference on this topic. In this virtual conference, we will learn about the most recent advances in the field of immunotherapy from the basic science to clinical studies including the identification of novel targets; an improved understanding of the mechanisms of action of therapeutic interventions; as well as discussions about biomarkers of response to treatment and mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance to immunotherapy.