The immune system is composed of organs such as lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, and other mucous membranes which play an indispensable role of protecting the body from diseases. However, the body’s natural immune responses fail to work against diseases such as cancer. This because cancerous cells are nothing but the body’s own cells gone rogue, unlike a foreign bacteria and virus. This is why researchers have developed immunotherapy drugs that stimulate the body’s immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells.
Checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, adoptive cell transfer, and vaccines are some forms of immunotherapy solutions that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fight off cancer. These can be administered orally, topically, or intravenously. Several research studies are still underway for testing the effects of potential drugs that could prove to be useful for stimulating the immune system’s response against cancer. If the doctor approves patients could participate in promising clinical trials for immunotherapy.
How can one benefit from immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy might be a viable option when conditions like melanoma, kidney cancer, or leukemia don’t respond well to chemotherapy and radiation. Interestingly, in some cases, using immunotherapy with other types of cancer treatments like chemotherapy can help tackle the disease in a more effective manner.
It is also important to note that immunotherapy only targets the cancer cells, unlike chemotherapy that kills the healthy cells as well and triggers symptoms such as severe fatigue and nausea. Also, with the help of this type of cancer treatment, the immune system acquires something known as “immunological memory.” This basically implies that the immune system learns to attack the cancer cell if they were to return, helping a patient remain cancer-free for a longer period.
Undoubtedly, immunotherapy has been a critical development in cancer research, however, it does involve some risks. Here are some of the common ones.
- Allergic reactions: The affected area might itch, hurt, turn sore or could develop rashes.
- Side-effects: Usually, the first immunotherapy round could make the immune system overactive, causing flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headaches, nausea, joint or muscle pain, and chills. It could also prompt additional problems like weight gain, swelling, diarrhea, heart palpitations, and stuffy head. However, these side-effects are expected to ease as one’s body gets used to immunotherapy drugs.
- Harm to organs: Some forms of immunotherapy drugs can encourage the immune system to mistakenly attack vital organs such as lungs, kidneys, intestines, heart, and liver.
Immunotherapy might be a cause of hope for many patients, however, it might take some time to show results. Moreover, it might not be suitable for everyone. In some cases, this cancer treatment has only been partially effective, i.e., the tumor has stopped growing or turned smaller, however, it hasn’t been entirely destroyed. Researchers aren’t sure why immunotherapy only works for some cancer patients. Unfortunately, in certain cases, the cancer cells could develop resistance against immunotherapy drugs. This means that the treatment might work well initially but after a point, the tumor could start growing again.
