Immunotherapy is a treatment method used in cancer treatment in addition to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This method supports the resistance of the body of the person carrying the cancer cell, increases the immunity and tries to destroy the cancer cells in this way.
What are the Immunotherapy Treatment Methods?
Immunotherapy treatment is applied with 3 different methods: >Monoclonal antibodies
Antibodies known as immune checkpoint blockers are the war cells of our immune system. They bind to antigens (foreign substances such as bacterial wall, virus particles) in the environment and destroy them. Monoclonal antibodies can be defined as antibodies produced in the laboratory that mimic the immune system's attack on cancer cells. They show their effects by binding to some molecules found in increased numbers on cancer cells and destroying cancer cells.
T cell therapy
Another method for immunotherapy is T cell method. T cells are a subset of white blood cells in our body. Immunotherapy is directly related to these cells. In T cell immunotherapy, T cells collected from the patient are specially modified under laboratory conditions and equipped with structures that recognize cancer cells. These stimulated T cells, which are given back to the patient, recognize and destroy the cancer cells in the body. Cells with this special protein accumulation applied in serum form are administered to the patient at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks.
Oncolytic therapy
In immunotherapy oncolytic therapy, it is aimed to kill cancer cells with viruses. Experimental studies combined with chemotherapy drugs or immune checkpoint blockers are very promising. The purpose of this method is to enable the immune system of the person's body to make more precise and effective attacks against cancerous cells. Thus, while the growth and spread of cancerous cells is prevented, it is possible to completely eliminate the cancer. In some patients, complete recovery can be achieved thanks to this immunotherapy method.
What are the Side Effects of Immunotherapy?
Our defense cells (T cell) in our body, together with drugs, activate the immune system against cancer. Activation of the immune system Although not as much as chemotherapy after chemotherapy, side effects are also seen in immunotherapy method.
The most common side effects;
- mouth sores called mucositis,
- liver damage,
- skin allergies,
- diarrhea,
- fatigue,
- weakness,
- nausea,
- flu-like complaints.
- Complaints of rash and itching,
- Thyroid dysfunctions,
- Hormonal disorders,
- Pneumonitis/Lung inflammation
- Psychiatric disorders,
- Experiencing weight loss,
- Autoimmune diseases,
- Acute infusion
How is Immunotherapy Done?
Immunotherapy, which is a new dimension of drug therapy in cancer, is given by intravenous serum like chemotherapy. It does not cause any significant problems during application. It is the most important medicine especially for malignant melanoma, i.e. mole cancers. In the treatment of squamous cell lung cancer, immunotherapy is preferred when no results can be obtained after chemotherapy.
This treatment method is also used in types such as kidney cancer and lymph cancer. As for bladder, bowel, stomach and breast cancers, this method is not widely used yet because it is still in the research phase. Immunotherapy, which is not currently used in the early disease period, is performed with immunotherapy drugs in stage 4 patients.
What is the Use of Biological Therapy in Cancer?
Biological drugs, also called "smart drugs", targeting and destroying cancer cells It is also used for suitable patients.
Patients' compliance with biological treatments that do not cause many side effects caused by chemotherapy drugs is much higher. In patients who are suitable for adjuvant or neoadjuvant (post-surgery) chemotherapy, the biological agent added in a part of chemotherapy is completed for 1 year after chemotherapy is over. .
In addition to classical chemotherapy (especially in the treatment of breast cancer), there are some biological drugs that have recently started to be used. These drugs have more successful results, especially in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer. gives. The use of new drugs in patients with locally advanced breast cancer allows complete disappearance of the tumor in 50-60% of patients.
Read: 0
