Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to combat cancer by helping it recognize and attack cancer cells. This treatment can be given alone or alongside other cancer therapies and is considered the standard treatment for some types of cancer.
Here’s a closer look at immunotherapy and how it works:
Types of Immunotherapy
According to Cancer Research UK, there are various types of immunotherapy currently available:
Monoclonal Antibodies (MABs)
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Vaccines
Cytokines
CAR T-Cell Therapy
Some of these treatments are also referred to as targeted therapies or biological therapies.
The Immune System and Immunotherapy
How the Immune System Works
The immune system protects the body from infections and diseases. It can also help prevent the development of cancer by recognizing and destroying abnormal cells. The immune system includes lymph nodes, the spleen, and white blood cells. Under normal circumstances, the immune system can identify and eliminate faulty cells before they develop into cancer.
However, cancer can develop when:
Low white blood cell count makes the immune system too weak to detect and destroy cancer cells.
Cancer cells produce signals that prevent the immune system from attacking them.
Cancer cells evade the immune system by hiding or escaping detection.
Understanding these mechanisms helps doctors develop ways to improve and tailor immunotherapies to enhance the immune response against cancer.
Immunotherapy's Effect on Different Types of Cancer
Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that harnesses the power of the immune system to prevent, control, and eliminate cancer. From preventive vaccines for cervical and liver cancer to the first successful treatment for extending survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, immunology has led to significant breakthroughs for various cancers.
Each type of cancer is unique, but immunotherapy can impact all cancers in different ways, as noted by the Cancer Research Institute.
Side Effects of Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy can cause side effects, often occurring when the activated immune system attacks normal, healthy tissues. Some common side effects include:
Fatigue
Dryness of the skin
Skin rashes and itching
Diarrhea and abdominal pain
Bleeding in stools
How is Immunotherapy Administered to Cancer Patients?
Immunotherapy can be given in several ways, depending on the type of treatment:
Intravenous (IV) Injection: The treatment is delivered directly into the bloodstream.
Oral (by mouth): The medication comes in the form of pills or capsules to be swallowed.
Topical: Applied directly to the skin, often used for early-stage skin cancers.
Intravesical: Delivered directly into the bladder via a catheter.
How Often Should Immunotherapy Be Administered?
The frequency and duration of immunotherapy treatment depend on several factors:
Type of cancer and its progression.
Type of immunotherapy being administered.
How the patient’s body responds to the treatment.
Patients may receive immunotherapy daily, weekly, or monthly. Some therapies are given in cycles, where periods of treatment are followed by rest periods. These breaks allow the body to recover and regenerate healthy cells while continuing to respond to the treatment.
Latest Research in Immunotherapy
Researchers are currently focusing on several key areas to improve immunotherapy, including:
Overcoming resistance: Researchers are testing combinations of checkpoint inhibitors, other forms of immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and radiation to overcome resistance to treatment.
Predicting responses: Only a small percentage of patients respond to immunotherapy. Predicting who will benefit from treatment is a major area of research.
Understanding how cancer cells evade immune responses: Better understanding of how cancer cells "escape" the immune system could lead to new drugs that prevent these evasion tactics.
Reducing side effects: Finding ways to minimize the side effects of immunotherapy is critical, as this will make the treatment more tolerable for patients.
Conclusion
Immunotherapy represents a promising avenue for cancer treatment, utilizing the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer. While it has shown remarkable success in some cases, ongoing research and development aim to expand its effectiveness and reduce its side effects. As advancements continue, immunotherapy could play an increasingly central role in the fight against cancer.
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