Types of Immunotherapy Treatments
Posted on: March 31, 2024 *Updated on: May 27, 2024Immunotherapy is an innovative approach to cancer treatment that leverages the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Different types of immunotherapy work in various ways to boost or modify the immune system to combat cancer more effectively. Here’s a brief overview of the types of immunotherapy treatments, particularly in the context of mesothelioma and other cancers:
1. Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines aim to prevent cancer from developing or to treat existing cancer by stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells. There are two main types of cancer vaccines:
- Preventive (prophylactic) vaccines target viruses that can cause cancer, such as the HPV vaccine which prevents cervical and other types of cancer.
- Treatment (therapeutic) vaccines boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancers that have already developed by marking cancer cells as targets for the immune system.
2. CAR T-Cell Therapy
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a type of treatment that modifies a patient’s T-cells (a kind of immune cell) to better recognize and attack cancer cells. T-cells are removed from the patient, genetically engineered in a lab to produce special structures called CARs on their surface, and then reintroduced into the patient. These CARs allow the T-cells to latch onto specific antigens on cancer cells and destroy them. This therapy has shown promise in treating certain types of leukemia and lymphoma and is being investigated for other cancers, including mesothelioma.
3. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Immune checkpoints are molecules on certain immune cells that need to be activated (or inactivated) to start an immune response. Cancer cells often exploit these checkpoints to avoid being attacked by the immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block these checkpoints, allowing the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Examples include ipilimumab (Yervoy), nivolumab (Opdivo), and pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which target the CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 checkpoints, respectively. These therapies have been approved for several cancer types, including melanoma, lung cancer, and more recently, mesothelioma.
4. Monoclonal Antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made molecules engineered to serve as substitute antibodies that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system’s attack on cancer cells. They are designed to bind to specific targets (antigens) on cancer cells. Some monoclonal antibodies mark cancer cells so that the immune system can recognize and destroy them more effectively. Others are known as “conjugated monoclonal antibodies,” which are joined to chemotherapy drugs or radioactive substances to deliver treatment directly to cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies like bevacizumab (Avastin) target the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the tumor, thereby inhibiting tumor growth.
Each of these immunotherapies has its unique mechanism of action and, consequently, its specific potential benefits and risks. The choice of therapy depends on various factors, including the type of cancer, its stage, previous treatments, and the overall health of the patient. Immunotherapy has significantly advanced cancer treatment, offering hope to patients with previously untreatable types of cancer. However, not all cancers or patients respond to immunotherapy, and researchers are continually working to understand why and to develop new strategies to overcome these challenges.