Cancer immunotherapy

Definition

Cancer immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It works by either stimulating the immune system to work harder or by providing it with additional components, such as man-made immune system proteins, to enhance its ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. This approach represents a shift from traditional therapies, like chemotherapy, and offers a more targeted mechanism to treat different types of cancer effectively.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cancer immunotherapy can be categorized into various types, including monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and cellular therapies like CAR T-cell therapy.
2. Unlike traditional cancer treatments, immunotherapy often leads to longer-lasting responses as it trains the immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells over time.
3. Immunotherapy is not suitable for all patients or all types of cancer; its effectiveness can depend on the tumor's genetic makeup and the overall health of the patient.
4. Some patients may experience unique side effects from immunotherapy due to the enhanced immune response, which can lead to inflammation in healthy tissues.
5. Recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy have shown promising results in clinical trials, leading to FDA approvals for several new treatments in recent years.

Review Questions

• How does cancer immunotherapy differ from traditional treatments like chemotherapy?
  • Cancer immunotherapy differs from traditional treatments like chemotherapy primarily in its approach. While chemotherapy directly targets and kills rapidly dividing cancer cells, immunotherapy harnesses and enhances the body’s own immune system to recognize and attack cancer. This can lead to more targeted destruction of tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells, potentially resulting in fewer side effects and longer-lasting effects.
• Evaluate the role of checkpoint inhibitors in enhancing the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.
  • Checkpoint inhibitors play a crucial role in enhancing cancer immunotherapy by blocking proteins that suppress the immune response. By inhibiting these checkpoints, T-cells can be activated more effectively to identify and destroy cancer cells. This strategy has shown significant success in treating certain cancers, such as melanoma and lung cancer, by restoring the immune system's ability to fight off tumors that would otherwise evade detection.
• Discuss the challenges associated with developing effective cancer immunotherapies and how ongoing research is addressing these issues.
  • Developing effective cancer immunotherapies presents several challenges, including identifying which patients are likely to benefit from treatment and managing potential side effects resulting from an overactive immune response. Additionally, tumors can develop resistance to therapies over time. Ongoing research is focused on better understanding tumor biology, improving patient selection through biomarkers, and combining different treatment modalities to enhance overall effectiveness while minimizing adverse effects.

Related terms

Monoclonal antibodies: Lab-made molecules that can bind to specific targets on cancer cells, marking them for destruction by the immune system.

Checkpoint inhibitors: Drugs that help to activate T-cells by blocking proteins that suppress immune responses, allowing the immune system to attack cancer cells more effectively.

CAR T-cell therapy: A form of immunotherapy that involves modifying a patient's T-cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells.