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CANCER
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Types
of
Immunotherapy
Monoclonal Antibodies
An antibody is protein that circulates throughout the body to find and attach to antigens.​ Once they attach, the alert other disease fighting molecules in the immune system. Researches have designed antibodies that target a specific type of antigen, such as cancer cells. Many copied of the antibody are made in labs and are known as Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs). Different types of monoclonal antibodies are: Naked mAbs, naked mAbs that can work themselves and do not require drugs or radioactive material to attach to them; Conjugated mAbs, are joined to a chemotherapy drug or a radioactive particle; and Bispecific mAbs, attach to 2 different proteins at the same time. Possible side effects that can occur are fever, headache, chills, low blood pressure, weakness, rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
The most important part for the immune system is its ability to tell the difference between normal cells in the body from foreign invaders.The immune system uses "checkpoint"which are molecules on certain immune cells that need to activated (or inactivated) to start an immune response. PD-1 is a checkpoint in the body called T cells. Monoclonal antibodies attack PD-1 can break the binding of cells and boost the immune system response against cancer cells. Drugs that inhibit PD-1 are Prembrolizumab and Nivolumab. These drugs can be treated on various cancers, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney, bladder, head and neck, and Hodgkin lymphoma. At the moment, they are being studied against many other cancers.
Cancer Vaccines
Vaccines use weakened or killed germ like viruses or bacteria to start an immune response in the body. But in cancer vaccines it gets the immune system prepared to defend against cancer cells. The goal for cancer vaccines is to help treat cancer or help keep it coming back from other treatments. Getting this vaccine can help those at risk with liver, cervical, throat, anal, and other cancers. These vaccines try to get the immune system to prepare an attack against cancer cells in the body. The are meant to get the immune system to attack the disease rather than preventing the disease from occurring. Vaccines are often combined with other treatments, such as adjuvants to help boost the immune response. After the vaccine is given, it is hoped for a longer period of time.
Non-Specific Immunotherapies
There are several different immunotherapies that don't specifically target T cells but stimulate the immune system. These non-specific immunotherapies are given on their own as cancer treatments. Some of these immunotherapies are: Cytokines, chemicals which are made by some immune system cells and is crucial for growth and activity of other immune cells; Interferons, chemicals that resist the body from virus infections and cancers. It boosts the immune system to attack cancer cells and slow dow the growth of cancer cells. Side affects that can occur is hair thinning, skin rashes, flu like symptoms, and low white blood cell count.
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