Immunotherapy is a promising approach against various cancers. Unlike methods that directly attack tumors and potentially cause side effects, immunotherapy stimulates the body’s own immune system to locate and attack cancer cells. Let’s look into this treatment and how it’s making a difference.
How It Works
The immune system is naturally capable of spotting and eliminating harmful microorganisms and potentially cancerous cells. However, cancer often finds ways to evade detection and suppress immune responses. Immunotherapy addresses this by enhancing the body’s defenses and stimulating anti-cancer immune cell production. Immunotherapy comes in several forms:
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Some cancers use proteins to block inhibitory signals and avoid detection by T-cells, the immune cells that fight infections and tumors. Checkpoint inhibitors undo the blockage, allowing the T-cells to recognize and tackle tumors aggressively. These specialized drugs can also be integrated with chemotherapy and targeted therapy for more comprehensive treatment.
Monoclonal Antibodies
These lab-made proteins support natural antibodies that destroy viruses, allergens, and diseases. They can target specific antigens on cancer cells and, once attached, hinder tumor growth and mark them for immune destruction. Monoclonal antibodies can also directly attack the tumors using toxic substances.
Adoptive Cell or T-Cell Transfer Therapy
This technique involves collecting the patient’s T-cells, modifying them in a laboratory to combat cancer more effectively, and then reintroducing them into the body. It has two subtypes:
- Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) immunotherapy: This subtype utilizes T-cells that usually gather in small groups but can’t destroy tumors effectively. The modifications empower them to kill tumors and interfere with signals that suppress the immune system
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy: This subtype also uses T-cells and follows the same process. However, it alters them to generate the CAR proteins that track antigens on cancer cells, then latch and destroy them.
Immunomodulators
These agents boost immunity in general instead of directly targeting cancer. This therapy uses modulators like cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that inform the immune system when to attack cancer cells. Another example is biologic response modifiers. These drugs stop tumors from growing and forming blood vessels.
Cancer Vaccines
Therapeutic vaccines insert cancer antigens that help train the immune system to fight off cancer-causing infections. Vaccines also aid the body’s immune response when cancer develops.
Although it isn’t a complete cure, cancer immunotherapy offers long-term disease control. It can remove, limit the growth, and prevent the recurrence of multiple cancer types. More importantly, it trains your immune system to continue attacking cancer even after completing treatment.
Bolster Immune Defense Against Cancer
Immunotherapy is changing the medical landscape and bringing new hope to patients. Utilizing the body’s immunity to eradicate tumors is key to enhancing patient outcomes and making treatment more effective and accessible. Consult with an oncologist to determine whether immunotherapy is appropriate for your diagnosis.
