Immunotherapy is a cutting-edge cancer treatment that harnesses the body’s immune system to identify, attack, and destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, which directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy works by boosting or redirecting the body’s natural defenses to fight the disease.

How Immunotherapy Works

The immune system naturally identifies and eliminates abnormal cells. However, cancer cells can evade detection or suppress the immune response. Immunotherapy overcomes these challenges by:

• Enhancing the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy cancer cells.

• Disrupting the mechanisms cancer cells use to hide from immune surveillance.

Types of Immunotherapy

1. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors:

These drugs block proteins (checkpoints) that suppress immune responses, allowing T cells to attack cancer cells.

Common examples:

PD-1 Inhibitors: Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Nivolumab (Opdivo).

PD-L1 Inhibitors: Atezolizumab (Tecentriq), Durvalumab (Imfinzi).

CTLA-4 Inhibitors: Ipilimumab (Yervoy).

2. CAR T-Cell Therapy:

A personalized treatment that involves modifying a patient’s T cells to target specific antigens on cancer cells.

Used for blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

How CAR T-Cell Therapy Works

• T cells are extracted from the patient’s blood through a process called leukapheresis.

• In a laboratory, the T cells are modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface.

• These CARs are designed to recognize specific proteins (antigens) on cancer cells.

• The modified CAR T cells are expanded in the lab to create millions of cancer-fighting cells.

• The engineered T cells are infused back into the patient’s body.

• The CAR T cells recognize and bind to the cancer cells, triggering an immune response to destroy them.

Applications of CAR T-Cell Therapy

CAR T-cell therapy is primarily used for cancers that have not responded to standard treatments:

1. Hematological (Blood) Cancers:

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL):

• Especially in children and young adults.

• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL):

• Includes subtypes like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL):

• For relapsed or refractory cases.

• Multiple Myeloma:

• Targets BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) on myeloma cells.

2. Solid Tumors (Under Research):

• CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors like breast, lung, and ovarian cancers is being explored.

Advantages of CAR T-Cell Therapy

Highly Targeted:CAR T cells are designed to specifically attack cancer cells, sparing healthy tissues.

Durable Response:Long-lasting remission has been observed in some patients.

Personalized Treatment: Tailored to the patient’s cancer and immune system.
 

Eligibility for CAR T-Cell Therapy

CAR T-cell therapy is typically considered for:

• Patients with relapsed or refractory cancers.

• Individuals who have not responded to other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or stem cell transplants.

• Patients in good general health to tolerate potential side effects.

3. Monoclonal Antibodies:

• Lab-made proteins that bind to specific antigens on cancer cells, flagging them for destruction by the immune system.

Examples:

Rituximab (Rituxan) for lymphoma.

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) for HER2-positive breast cancer.

4. Cytokines:

• Proteins like interleukins and interferons boost immune system activity. Example: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) for kidney cancer and melanoma.

5. Immune Modulators:

• Boost the overall activity of the immune system. Example: Lenalidomide for multiple myeloma.

Applications of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is effective against various types of cancer, including:

• Melanoma (e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic virus therapy).

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors).

• Renal Cell Carcinoma (e.g., cytokines, checkpoint inhibitors).

• Blood Cancers (e.g., CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia and lymphoma).

• Bladder Cancer (e.g., Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy).

• Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (e.g., immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy).

Advantages of Immunotherapy

• Can stimulate a durable immune response, reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

• Targets cancer cells more precisely than traditional therapies, minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

• Offers hope for cancers that are resistant to other treatments.

• Can be combined with other treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapies for enhanced outcomes.

Immunotherapy represents a transformative approach in cancer treatment, leveraging the power of the immune system to combat the disease.