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Tag: Monoclonal Antibodies

Types of Immunotherapy

Types of Immunotherapy

Different types of immunotherapy are used to treat cancer. These treatments can either help the immune system attack the cancer directly or stimulate the immune system in a more general way. Types of immunotherapy that help the immune system act directly against the cancer include:

  • Checkpoint inhibitors, they are the type of drugs that help the immune system respond more aggressively to a tumour. These drugs function by not targeting the tumour directly, but they interfere with the ability of cancer cells to avoid immune system attack.
  • Adoptive cell transfer is a type of immunotherapy treatment that aids in enhancing the natural ability of your T cells to fight cancer. In this treatment, T cells are derived from the tumor developed. These T- cells are most potent in killing your cancer and these T- cells are further developed in huge amounts in the lab. These developed can further be utilized in killing the tumour cells.
  • Monoclonal antibodies, also known as therapeutic antibodies, which are immune system proteins created in the lab. These antibodies are designed to attach to specific targets found on cancer cells. Some monoclonal antibodies mark cancer cells so that they will be better seen and destroyed by the immune system. Other monoclonal antibodies directly stop cancer cells from growing or cause them to self-destruct. Still others carry toxins to cancer cells. Because therapeutic monoclonal antibodies recognize specific proteins on cancer cells, they are also considered targeted therapies.
  • Treatment vaccines, which work against cancer by boosting your immune system’s response to cancer cells. Treatment vaccines are different from the ones that help prevent disease

Types of immunotherapy that enhance the body’s immune response to fight the cancer include:

  • Cytokines, which are proteins made by your body’s cells. They play important roles in the body’s normal immune responses and also in the immune system’s ability to respond to cancer. The two main types of cytokines used to treat cancer are called interferons and interleukins
  • BCG, which stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, is an immunotherapy that is used to treat bladder cancer. It is a weakened form of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. When inserted directly into the bladder with a catheter, BCG causes an immune response against cancer cells. It is also being studied in other types of cancer.

How does Immunotherapy work against Cancer?

Cancer destroys your body because it primarily hits your immune system. Certain immunotherapies target cancer cells and afterward kill them. Other immunotherapies your help in boosting your immune system in a way that it destroys the cancer cells. Immunotherapy a new cancer treatment Immunotherapy is not yet as widely used as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, immunotherapies are slowly gaining importance and is been widely accepted as a treatment choice by many of the doctors.

To read more on Cancer, click on the link below,

What is cancer

New research on Breast Cancer

 
  

The efforts to find a treatment for breast cancer are ongoing. Researchers are developing new drugs and treatment for cancer. Research done in the labs if found successful are then taken to the clinical trials for further confirmation of the drug or any treatment therapy.

Some latest research carried out for breast cancer is as below:

Monoclonal antibodies developed in the lab:

They are being developed to work alone or with chemotherapy and radiation therapy to find and attack cancer cells. Our bodies do not recognize cancer cells as foreign body; this therapy aims to develop certain antibodies which start to recognize cancer cells as foreign cells and starts fighting with them. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is an example of an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody.

Anti–angiogenesis drugs:

Anti–angiogenesis drugs block angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels). In this research cancer cells are devoid the supply of blood vessels, which will not allow them to grow further. This research aims to develop such drugs which can restrict the supply of blood vessels especially in metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Immunotherapy:

Immunotherapy aims to develop the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. An example is cancer vaccines. Vaccines may be made up of cancer cells or parts of cancer cells. These cells stimulate the body’s natural defense to help attack and kill cancer cells. They are currently under study for MBC.

Food and cancer Research:

A study conducted at Loma Lind University, looked at several dietary items and the risk of prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer. This research revealed that a vegetarian diet was associated with a slightly lower cancer risk (particularly in gastrointestinal cancers), and a vegan diet was associated with a lower risk of cancers of female organs and prostate cancer. A lower rate of breast cancer was found when high amounts of foods such as soy isoflavones were consumed. The research also revealed that cooked tomatoes were associated with lower prostate cancer risk. Studies have revealed that high fibre diet minimizes the risk of bowel cancer. Foods high in fibre include fruits, vegetables, pulses and wholegrain foods, the best source is whole grains. Scientists are trying to find the reason for consuming high fibre diet and less risk of cancer.

Salt-preserved foods and cancer:

Salt-preserved foods have found to increase the risk of stomach cancer. Some salt-preserved foods are pickled vegetables, salted fish and cured meats. Salt could increase stomach cancer risk by damaging the stomach lining, which causes inflammation or the stomach lining becomes sensitive to cancer causing chemicals. Salt may also react with stomach bug called Helicobacter pylori that is linked to both stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.