What is Immunotherapy?

What is Immunotherapy?

Our body has an immune system that fights infections, viruses or abnormal cells that grow. As a part of its regular function, our immune system is regularly fighting cancer cells. At times it fails due to various reasons and cancer cells unite to grow and cause damage. On the other hand, cancer cells also have ways to trick the immune system by undergoing genetic changes, and changes in protein and cell composition.

Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that boosts a person’s immunity to fight cancer cells. Immune cells travel throughout the body via the lymphatic system. In this treatment, a patient’s immune system is stimulated with great efficiency through certain drugs, proteins and other medications.

 

There are various Immunotherapies

Immune checkpoint inhibitors- Drugs that allow the immune system to respond more aggressively to destroy cancer cells.

T-cell transfer therapy- The most active T cells around your tumour is taken and boosted in a laboratory to attack your cancer cells. It is then administered back into your body intravenously.

Monoclonal antibodies- These are immune system proteins created in a lab to attach themselves to cancer cells. Some can even mark cancer cells so that the body’s immune system can identify and continue to kill cancer cells even after treatment is over.

Treatment vaccines- These are different from the regular vaccines we take. They are meant to boost your own immune system’s response to cancer cells.

Immune system modulators- These enhance specific parts of the body’s immune system.

 

Which tests are carried out in Immunotherapy?

Biomarkers are tests that determine the level of abnormality. They give a clearer picture of the patient's genetic makeup, behaviour, and interactions with the immune system. Biomarkers in Immunotherapy are easy to obtain. Biomarkers are very important in cancer treatment because they determine the course of treatment.

Also, for immunotherapy liquid biopsy can be conducted so that results can be obtained easily and quickly. General biopsy for immunotherapy assesses immune cell status rather than tumour characteristics. Which again is very unique to this treatment.

 IHC- Immunohistochemistry assays are used widely because they can indicate the distribution and localization of specific cellular components within cells and in proper tissue context which doctors can use to provide better treatment. Its specific standards are laid down for immunotherapy. It is also easy to predict responses in patients being administered immunotherapy.

How is Immunotherapy given?

Immunotherapies are administered into a vein (IV), through an injection, under the skin or into a muscle. Some medications are injected directly into the body cavity where the tumour is located.

Certain medications need to be taken orally. Creams are also used in immunotherapy that is rubbed over the affected area, especially in skin cancer treatment.

An intravesical method is also used where medication goes directly into the bladder.

Any side effects of Immunotherapy

This kind of therapy also causes side effects like fatigue, fever, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, decreased appetite, rash and itching.

All these side effects can be treated and managed. The patient must report to the doctor no matter how minor the side effect is.

On the whole, immunotherapy is relatively cost-friendly and promising treatment for cancer.