Comprehensive Overview of Cancer Immunotherapy Strategies
This article offers a detailed overview of various immunotherapy approaches for cancer treatment, including non-specific therapies, T-cell therapy, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and oncolytic virus therapy. It explains how these methods enhance the immune response to fight and eliminate cancer cells effectively. The article emphasizes the importance of professional medical guidance and clarifies that the information is for educational purposes only, not medical advice.
Comprehensive Overview of Cancer Immunotherapy Strategies
Immunotherapy, also known as biological therapy, employs agents either synthetically produced or naturally existing in the body to enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer. Its goal is to boost immune response to eliminate existing cancer cells, halt tumor growth, and prevent metastasis. There are four main categories of immunotherapy:
Non-specific immunotherapies
These include agents like interleukins and interferons that activate the immune system to attack cancer cells, either alone or alongside treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
Interleukins are often used for melanoma and kidney cancers, while interferons are common for various other cancer types.
T-cell therapy
T-cell therapy involves modifying a patient’s T-cells in the lab by inserting specific receptors, enabling them to target and destroy cancer cells efficiently. The enhanced T-cells are then returned to the bloodstream.
These vaccines, whether for treatment or prevention, expose the immune system to cancer-specific antigens to stimulate an anti-tumor response.
Monoclonal antibodies
Drugs like Avelumab, Nivolumab, and Pembrolizumab are lab-made proteins designed to target specific cancer cell markers. They help the immune system recognize and destroy tumors, also by inhibiting immune checkpoints that typically suppress immune responses.
Oncolytic virus therapy
This method introduces genetically engineered viruses, such as T-VEC, directly into tumors. The virus selectively infects and destroys cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, prompting an immune response to attack remaining cancer cells. Patients typically receive multiple injections until the cancer is eradicated.
