Experts gave detailed information about immunotherapy, which is the method of fighting cancer by using their own immune system and defense mechanisms.
Experts gave detailed information about immunotherapy, which is the method of fighting cancer by using their own immune system and defense mechanisms.
Stating that there has been a dizzying revolutionary development in the treatment of cancer in recent years, specialists have noted that progresses in immunology, molecular biology, and genetics can result in minimal side effects that can not be imagined in cancer therapy.
The theoretical foundations are very old; First Practical Applications Experts who gave detailed information about immunotherapy dating back to the 19th century described treatment methods as follows:
"Interferon and interleukin treatments, which we used more often in the past, can be counted in this group. Today, they are still able to use their advanced immunotherapy methods in the malignant melanoma, kidney and liver tumors of the skin. They are not drugs that are typical of tumors. They can be used alone or together with chemotherapy drugs.
Antibodies, which are proteins produced in our body against infections, have very important functions in the treatment of cancer with the forms obtained in the laboratory. Some antibodies, as targeted drugs, bind to abnormal proteins found in cancer cells and block them. Some of them also bind to specific proteins found on cancer cells and mark them so that their immune system warrior cells find and destroy these marked cancer cells.
Another group of antibodies initiates the process of destroying cancer cells by disrupting the brake mechanisms that occur on the immune system for a variety of reasons and that prevent the system from functioning as it should. In particular, the agents in this last group have become very popular lately, and these group antibodies are directly related to immunotherapy. These are called immune check point inhibitors.
Today, many successful organs such as lung, bladder, head and neck cancers, melanomas and lymphomas have been successfully obtained with these agents, which have been approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) for many organs and hematological tumors.
T cells are a subgroup of our white cells. In this method, the body's own T cells are harvested and are equipped with special proteins that we call the receptor with very complex engineering techniques in the laboratory. These receptors give T cells the ability to recognize cancer cells. They are replicated in the laboratory in sufficient quantities and given to the body again. Now the blood circulation has started to circulate T cells that have been equipped with new and powerful features, almost like commando training. These cells recognize and destroy cancer cells as soon as they meet. These methods, which have not yet been used in our country, have begun to receive results that can not be imagined previously in blood and marrow cancers with the treatment of "CAR-T cell" and "Bispecific T cell engagers".
In this method, the killing of cancer cells is targeted using genetically modified viruses. By passing through healthy cells, these viruses, which go to cancer cells and settle, have started to get very successful results. For example, the first FDA-approved Talimogen laherparepvec (T-VEC) virus treatment in 2015 took place in the treatment of patients with malignant melanoma. Experimental studies in which these viruses are currently administered and combined with immuno-blockers or chemotherapy drugs are promising.
The vaccination mechanisms we know are also valid here. The goal is to allow the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells instead of infectious agents. Today, the only approved vaccine is Sipluecel-T, developed for prostate cancer, and the use is offered. Positive results have been reported in other types of vaccines, especially in melanomas and some other tumors called peptide vaccines, and we expect them to be ready for commercial use soon. "
