Immunotherapy is a new advance in cancer treatment, helping to reactivate the immune system to increase its ability to find and destroy malignant cells, with fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy in cancer treatment involves introducing substances similar to components of the immune system, created in a laboratory, into the body to enhance or alter how the immune system functions, helping it detect and attack foreign, dangerous cells.
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Dr. Tran Vuong Thao Nghi, Head of the Oncology Department at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, provides consultation to patients. |
The natural immune system is distributed throughout the body, protecting it from viruses, bacteria, parasites, cancer cells, and more. When foreign cells appear, whether benign or malignant, the immune system recognizes them and launches an attack.
However, the immune system has certain limitations: it can detect cancer cells but not react strongly enough; it may fail to recognize cancer cells due to a blockage in its ability to identify foreign cells… When the immune system is weakened, cancer cells can more easily escape and thrive.
At the same time, cancer cells have the ability to temporarily inactivate the immune system, secreting substances that are beyond the immune system's control or preventing the immune system from finding and attacking them. In many cases, patients have a healthy immune system, but cancer cells still develop.
Therefore, researchers in immunotherapy for cancer treatment seek ways to help the natural immune system recognize cancer cells early and increase its ability to respond and attack and destroy them. Immunotherapy is a breakthrough in cancer treatment because it increases survival rates and improves the quality of life for patients.
For example, with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the tumor spreads and metastasizes to the opposite lung or distant organs.
A 2018 study in the New England Journal of Medicine involving 616 patients showed that those treated with combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy had a 12-month survival rate of approximately 69.2%; whereas the placebo group with combined chemotherapy had a 12-month survival rate of approximately 49.4%.
Immunotherapy has also proven effective in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. This type of cancer grows rapidly, and approximately 40% of patients with stage 1-3 triple-negative breast cancer will experience recurrence after treatment.
Immunotherapy in cancer treatment includes: Monoclonal antibodies: created in the laboratory, mimicking the way natural antibodies function, recognizing and binding to specific receptors on the surface of cancer cells to destroy them…
Non-specific immunotherapy: This works similarly to monoclonal antibodies, stimulating the natural immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Doctors may combine non-specific immunotherapy with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
There are two types of non-specific immunotherapy: drugs that stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies capable of recognizing and destroying malignant cells, suitable for patients with kidney and skin cancer; and drugs that inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Oncolytic viral therapy: Developed in the laboratory, it is effective in killing cancer cells.
T-cell therapy: This therapy works by altering genes in white blood cells (T cells) to activate their ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. It is often prescribed for children with leukemia and adults with lymphoma.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors: Cancer cells have the ability to temporarily inactivate the immune system to bypass the immune system's control mechanisms.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors prevent cancer cells from inactivating the immune system, thereby helping the immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells, contributing to improved cancer treatment effectiveness.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are used in many types of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Depending on the patient's condition and their body's response, the doctor will prescribe the method of administering immunosuppressant drugs.
Patients may receive immunotherapy through intravenous injection or infusion; or take immunotherapy pills. Some immunotherapy drugs for skin cancer are in gel form and can be applied to the skin.
The course and duration of immunotherapy depend on the type of cancer, the stage of the disease, its progression, and the patient's response to treatment. After each treatment cycle, the patient has a period of rest, recovery, and regeneration of new healthy cells.
Although less prone to side effects than chemotherapy, cancer patients treated with immunotherapy may experience drowsiness, fatigue, fever, chills, constipation, decreased blood cell count, increased risk of blood clots, and organ dysfunction due to an overreaction of the immune system.
The fetus may develop birth defects if the pregnant woman uses medication during pregnancy. Throughout the treatment process, patients should discuss any unusual symptoms with their doctor for appropriate monitoring and management.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/lieu-phap-mien-dich-dot-pha-trong-dieu-tri-ung-thu-d224719.html
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