Novel/Unconventional Methods for Cancer Treatment (5)

(5) Modulation of the Immune System

      Supposedly, our immune system is well equipped and able to fight against all invaders.  However, cancer cells are very similar to normal cells as we mentioned many times.  As a result, they are camouflaged in many ways so that they can evade T cells to confuse and avoid the immune response.  If we can “remove” some of their camouflage and expose them to the immune system, they may be subject to the defense power of the immune system.  Several drugs in this class are already on the market, including Yervoy by Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Keytruda by Merck & Co both approved for melanoma.  

Based on the current research activities, it seems likely that there will be more cancer drugs in this class coming out in the future.  One important factor to be emphasized for this type of cancer drugs is that patients must have healthy immune system and response so that T cells can “see” cancer cells and destroy them.  This is one of the reasons why it is important for everyone to maintain a healthy immune system. 

The other way to modulate the immune system is to remove some T cells from a patient, genetically modify them (so that they can look for and track cancer cells); these modified T cells are then multiplied in vitro before being returned back to the patient.  On such therapy is called CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell immunotherapy suitable for blood cancers. 

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2016

All contents posted in this blog are extracted from the book "IS CANCER IN US", available at Amazon.

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Although some commercial products, publications, and services are mentioned in this blog, the author does not endorse any specific products, publications, or services.  None of the contents in this blog represents or warrants that any of the products, publications, or services is appropriate or effective for their intended purposes. Readers shall always seek the advice of their physicians or other medical practitioners with any questions regarding personal health or medical conditions and shall be solely responsible for their own decisions and/or actions.