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Introduction:
Cancer is a disease that results in the abnormal growth of cells in a particular part of the body. The cells grow uncontrollably and destroy healthy tissue. As time progresses, cancer spreads in other body parts, deteriorating the individual’s health. Doctors use many treatment approaches for the treatment of cancer. One such approach is immunotherapy of cancer. Dr William B. Coley, a cancer surgeon, discovered immunotherapy for cancer treatment in the late 1890s. He found that when a particular strain of bacteria infects certain cancer patients, their tumour tends to regress and sometimes even disappear. Although his findings were not accepted during his lifetime, his daughter founded the Cancer Research Institute to research this approach further.
The Immune System
The immune system of our body is responsible for keeping us healthy. It does so by attacking and destroying foreign cells in our bodies like viruses and bacteria, which cause diseases and illnesses. The immune system comprises special organs, cells like the white blood cells, and certain chemicals that get activated when the body is invaded by a foreign substance or develops an infection. It then fights the infection, thus protecting the body from severe illness. However, in the case of cancer, the immune response may or may not be activated because cancer is caused when normal cells of the body start multiplying uncontrollably. As the body does not identify any foreign substance, it fails to give its 100 per cent in preventing and controlling the disease. Even if an immune response is initiated, it may not be strong enough to curb the spread of the disease.
Immunotherapy of Cancer
Different treatment plans are therefore used to help the body fight cancer. One such approach is immunotherapy of cancer. It is a biological therapy that boosts the immune system and strengthens it to fight against cancer cells. Some types of immunotherapy slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. In contrast, others trigger the immune system to destroy those cells and prevent them from spreading in the body.
Immunotherapy of cancer is carried out either as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other treatment options like chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Doctors assess the health before deciding which treatment approach will best fit a particular patient.
Types of Immunotherapy
Cancer vaccines
Like any other vaccine, vaccines to treat cancer are made from dead cancer cells or their protein pieces. Immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer involves the administration of cancer vaccines in the patient. The immune system identifies it as a foreign body and attacks it. Cervarix, Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine, Sipuleucel-T are some examples of cancer vaccines.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors
The immune system is equipped with certain checkpoints when it is working against disease-causing elements in the body to avoid healthy cells. Drugs such as checkpoint inhibitors block these checkpoints so that the immune system can work in full force against cancer cells. Examples of checkpoint inhibitor drugs include Pembrolizumab, Atezolizumab, Ipilimumab, and tisotumab vedotin-tftv.
T-cell transfer therapy
Also known as adoptive immunotherapy, this is a technique in which the body’s T-cells are given a boost to fight cancer. The procedure involves removing immune cells from the tumour to determine which ones are most effective against cancer. These cells are then grown in the lab and then administered into the body to fight the infection.
Immune system modulators
Immunomodulators or immune system modulators are drugs that boost the body’s immune response against certain types of cancers. Imiquimod, Lenalidomide, and Pomalidomide are some examples of immunomodulators.
Monoclonal antibodies
The human body produces antibodies to fight a specific disease. Antibodies are proteins that target disease-causing cells and destroy them. Monoclonal antibodies, also known as therapeutic antibodies, are designed in a laboratory to bind to or attack a specific part of a cancer cell, thus, facilitating its destruction.
Oncolytic Viruses
Oncolytic viruses are viruses that are modified in a laboratory. These infect and break down cancer cells but do not harm normal cells of the body. Currently, three oncolytic viruses are used clinically for cancer treatment.
Conclusion:
Immunotherapy can possibly be better than other cancer treatments as it utilises the power of the body’s immune system rather than being dependent on chemicals. Researchers are now utilising TLSs or tertiary lymphoid structures in the era of cancer immunotherapy to bring new advancements in cancer treatment. Immunotherapy of cancer is still less prescribed when compared to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Precaution is exercised when a patient is treated with immunotherapy drugs as these are newer. Patients, health care providers, and family members are thus required to follow precautionary measures during the treatment period. Even though precautions must be taken, it is found to be an effective treatment option for several cancers.
