IMMUNOTHERAPY is a revolutionary cancer treatment with profound potential for the treatment of cancer. The cancer cells thrive in our body because they are able to hide from our immune system. Certain drugs such as immunotherapies can either mark cancer cells so that it is easier for the immune system to find and destroy them or boost our immune system to work better against cancer. Various types of immunotherapeutic options available are
(a) Immune checkpoint inhibitors: These drugs basically take the ‘brakes’ off the immune system, thus making our immune cells capable enough to recognize and attack cancer cells. Ex. Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Atezolizumab, Durvalumab. They have been recently launched in India and are approved to be used for lung cancer, Hodgkins lymphoma, kidney cancer, head neck cancer, malignant melanoma (type of skin cancer), liver cancers and urinary bladder cancers.
(b) Cancer vaccines: A vaccine exposes the immune system to an antigen. This triggers the immune system to recognize and destroy that antigen or related materials thus helping us to prevent or treat cancer. Ex. HPV vaccine which can be used to prevent cervical, vaginal, vulvar or anal cancer in females and anal cancer in males.
(c) CAR T Cell Therapy: This therapy removes some of a person’s T cells ( type of immune cells) and alters them to make them better able to fight cancer. The altered T cells are then returned to the patient’s body to go to work. Some researchers have called these re-engineered cells “a living drug. CAR T cell therapy though yet unavailable in India is approved to be used for pediatric leukemias , high grade lymphomas and relapsed myeloma.
(d) Non-specific immunotherapies: These treatments boost the immune system in a general way, and help the immune system to attack cancer cells. Ex Interleukins and Interferon’s to be used for kidney cancer or chronic myeloid leukemia.
Immunotherapy side effects can be different than those seen with chemotherapy or radiation. They are usually related to stimulation of the immune system and can range from minor “flu like” symptoms like rash, itching, and fever, to major illness such as severe diarrhea, thyroid dysfunction, liver dysfunction and breathing difficulty. Immunotherapy can “train” the immune system to remember cancer cells and this “immune-memory” may result in long-lasting disease remissions which are maintained even after treatment is completed.
IMMUNOTHERAPY is gradually forming the backbone of treatment in various types of cancers both in metastatic and non metastatic setting.
At NH CANCER CARE , we provide most advanced medical expertise in an environment that focuses on strong ethics, compassion and concern for each and every individual patient. The oncology team with the help of a comprehensive tumor board has the capability to integrate leading edge research into a treatment plan tailored or personalized for an individual. The medical oncology team has vast experience in administering complex chemotherapy regimens, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, personalized cancer treatment , molecular oncology based protocols in common as well as rare cancers for both children and adults.
