The Advantages of Immunotherapy for Cancer

Using the body's natural defenses to kill cancer cells is an idea that is gaining ground in the scientific community. Although it is not as easy to implement, treatments exist and are new weapons to fight against cancer.

Immunotherapy has only recently had specific substances. But today, more and more promising molecules are in development.

The principle of immunotherapy

The immunotherapy drug targets cancer cells recognized as "foreign" by the body of the patient to destroy them. It relies on the patient's natural immunity to defeat cancer. To date, this technique is used in addition to conventional treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy...) to complete them.

Two types of immunotherapies exist:

• Local: with immune stimulation by injection;
• General: which involves powerful defense reactions through interferons, interleukin or antibodies. Synthetically produced, most of these drugs are substances that our body naturally produces.

The different drugs in immunotherapy

Many molecules are still being developed in this innovative way. Cancer research works every day to advance discoveries. Three main types of treatments are currently on the market:

INTERFERONS

 Sometimes combined with chemotherapy, interferon is used in certain tumors such as melanoma , myeloma , certain leukemias and lymphomas or even kidney cancer . Subcutaneous injections are then performed with a dose adapted to each patient and each cancer. There is often a "flu-like" side effect that can be easily passed on with conventional analgesics and antipyretics such as paracetamol.

INTERLEUKIN

 This genetically engineered drug (interleukin-2 (IL2)) that stimulates the growth and proliferation of certain lymphocytes that turn into killer cells whose main property is to destroy many tumor cells. This drug is used for some forms of renal adenocarcinoma and in melanoma.

Experts at Sheba said, "this drug is administered either as a continuous infusion or by subcutaneous injection and should be used under the supervision of an Oncology Unit with Intensive Care Unit". Its side effects can be significant and medical supervision is essential to ensure patient safety. It is often associated with medication for fever, nausea or stomach pain.

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

Monoclonal antibodies are produced by the latest techniques in genetics. There has been a lot of talk recently about Herceptin®, which can significantly improve breast cancer treatments for women who are receptive (a blood test called HER-2 is used). These antibodies are also used to treat lymphoma. These very promising molecules on paper have not yet revealed all their secrets and their promises.