Cancer Immunotherapy: Widening horizons of cancer treatment

For years, it has been known that the immune system plays a crucial role in destroying mutated cells and fighting against infections. However, mutated cells may surpass the immune system destruction in some scenarios, leading to tumours and cancerous growth. So here comes cancer immunotherapy in action.

Cancer immunotherapy is the most rapidly advancing treatment option that enhances the immune system's ability to recognize and attack mutated cancer cells in the body. It also helps produce additional components such as cytokines which boosts your body's natural ability to fight against cancer cells. 

There are various types of immunotherapies, at present, which may work in different ways such as:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors: It includes drugs that inhibit cancer cells from activating the immune system (immune checkpoints) and increase the body's defence to destroy cancer cells. Examples are nivolumab, ipilimumab, avelumab etc. FDA has approved most of the immune checkpoint inhibitors for use in cancer patients

Immune system modulators: It includes specific molecules or additional components such as cytokines which helps in enhancing immune responses such as anti-inflammatory response. Examples are cytokine therapy, interleukins, lenalidomide, pomalidomide etc. 

Adoptive cell therapy: It includes extracting immune cells from blood, reprogramming immune cells such as white blood cells (T cells) in the lab, and their infusion in cancer patients to boost immune responses. Examples are chimeric antigen receptor T cell transfer therapy (CAR T cell therapy) and tumour infiltrating lymphocyte therapy. 

Monoclonal antibodies: It includes proteins synthesized in the lab to recognize antigens present on mutated cells and aid in their destruction. Examples are rituximab, denosumab, canakinumab etc. 

Cancer vaccines: It may sound odd, but these are made from dead cancer cells, proteins from cancer cells or immune cells to treat cancer. Examples are Gardasil, which protects from HPV virus infection, associated with the risk of cervix, vagina, ovarian, uterine, vulvar, anal cancer, and Bacillus Calmette Guerin to reduce the risk of bladder cancer. 

Oncolytic virus therapy: It includes the use of viruses that can infect and destroy cancer cells. They only attack cancer cells and do not affect healthy cells. Examples are talimogene laherparepvec to treat metastatic melanoma. 

It can be administered in various dosage forms such as oral, topical, intravenous and intravesical. It can be used as monotherapy or in combination with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. 

Although this treatment is highly effective, it is not used widely and commonly as surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Therefore, there is a need to further explore its cancer-fighting capabilities in future cancer research clinical trials, as it can extend the survival rates of patients. 

Also, learn important things about chemotherapy. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q. What types of cancer can be treated with immunotherapy?

Ans. Immunotherapy is suitable for treating various solid cancers such as brain, lung, breast, kidney, liver, colon, rectal, cervical, prostate and skin cancer, and haematological cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma. 

Q. Does immunotherapy have any side effects?

Ans. Immunotherapy is highly effective, but it can also cause side effects such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, rashes, swelling, itching, pain and weakness. These side effects become less common after the first treatment and are less severe when compared to other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.