What is Immunotherapy? How Does It Affect Cancer?

What is Immunotherapy? How Does It Affect Cancer?

The immune system is a system that prevents foreign substances from entering the body and tries to destroy them with defense cells as soon as they enter the body. It is also the immune system that tries to eliminate rapidly multiplying cancer cells in cancer disease. This is because cancer cells arise from the abnormal rapid multiplication of the body’s own cells (metastasis). This situation is perceived as abnormal in the body and serves as an alarm for the activation of the defense system. Immune cells may be insufficient against cancer cells. In this case, immunotherapy can be used as a treatment method. Immunotherapy is a response in which the body’s own defense system activates and fights against foreign cells or cancer cells. Since cancer cells also multiply abnormally quickly, they signal an alarm in the body. Sometimes, when the body cannot fight these cells adequately, immunotherapy may help activate the immune system. In recent years, immunotherapy has become one of the most preferred methods in cancer research for treatment and can be a reliable treatment option for patients.

What is Immunotherapy?

In some types of cancer, this treatment can be applied in addition to treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Sometimes, immunotherapy can be chosen as the sole treatment. This decision is entirely determined by specialist oncologists and surgeons in collaboration with the patient. The normal functioning of the immune system to establish a defense line may not be sufficient for seriously ill cancer patients. Additionally, the main reason for tumor recurrence (the reappearance of cancerous cells after treatment) after drug treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the resistance the body shows to the drug. In immunotherapy, the aim is to create a stronger defense environment against cancer cells with the natural immune support mechanism.

The immune system has a highly complex mechanism and cell group. Each cell has various functions. Immune cells undertake important tasks such as recognizing foreign cells, producing antibodies, and breaking down foreign cells through phagocytosis. The fact that each type of immune cell has a different task and function can explain its fight against diseases. Immunotherapy is a type of natural treatment based on this system.

What Are the Types of Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy may not be suitable for every cancer patient. This treatment option is planned as a result of the evaluation of all other treatments by specialist physicians. However, as shown by years of clinical studies, immunotherapy is a solution that offers fewer side effects and successful treatment compared to other treatments for many cancer patients. Different types of therapies may be deemed appropriate by physicians for each type of cancer. The options for immunotherapy are as follows:

• Checkpoint inhibitors,
• Monoclonal antibodies (MAB),
• Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cell therapy),
• Cancer vaccines,
• Cytokines,
• Oncolytic viruses.

What is the Effect of Immunotherapy on Cancer?

To understand the effect of immunotherapy on cancer patients, it may be useful to understand the mechanism of cancer formation and development. As a result of cancer, cells multiply rapidly compared to normal and this situation is perceived as a pathological condition in the body. In fact, for the immune system, this division signifies the presence of foreign cells. Because cancer cells do not show healthy division patterns and differ in type from the tissues where they divide. If the body’s immune system does not function properly or does not show sufficient function for the disease that has developed, it can create an infrastructure for the development of many diseases, including cancer.

The effectiveness of immunotherapy is not only due to drug resistance but also another important reason is the memory of the immune system. The immune system remembers the foreign cells it encounters (immune memory) and puts the body on alert when it encounters the same cells again. In other words, the system that signals an alarm for fighting foreign material prevents tumor recurrence. This situation provides years of remission (a long period without disease symptoms).

At What Stage is Immunotherapy Applied?

Cancer treatment is applied as step treatments according to the staging and type of cancer. Commonly performed radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical treatments are more familiar to patients. However, immunotherapy is as effective for some types of cancer as these methods and has fewer side effects. The information on which stage immunotherapy will be applied varies depending on each type of cancer and the patient’s condition. In some patients, it may be preferred before surgical treatment, while in others, therapy may be performed after these treatments to prevent recurrence. Stage one cancer may be deemed suitable for immunotherapy, while this treatment may also yield successful results in late-stage cancer. For the most accurate answer, you can make an appointment with our hospital, which provides adequate services and successful treatment.

Which Cancer Diseases Can Immunotherapy Be Applied To?

Immunotherapy is an effective treatment for almost all types of cancer. The reason for its recent recognition is its clinically successful results. According to the International Cancer Research Institute, the cancers for which therapy is frequently applied and has received successful results in many countries are as follows:

• Lung Cancer,
• Breast Cancer,
• Colon Cancer,
• Bladder Cancer,
• Esophageal Cancer,
• Head and Neck Cancer,
• Uterine Cancer,
• Cervical Cancers,
• Kidney Cancer,
• Liver Cancer,
• Melanomas,
• Prostate Cancer,
• Pancreatic Cancer,
• Ovarian Cancer,
• Skin Cancer,
• Stomach Cancer.

This treatment, which is effective in almost all organs and tissues, is still being studied, and successful results are being obtained. It is vital to apply specific treatments for each type of cancer and to ensure that treatments are conducted by the right clinics. Therefore, you can consult our expert physicians for reliable and successful treatment.

How is Immunotherapy Applied?

Generally, treatment is applied by altering the structure of alternative cells in a laboratory environment or by reintroducing the patient’s own cells into their body. Even if the structure of the cells changes, the person receives treatment using their own cells with the immune system. Depending on the types of immunotherapy, it is applied as follows:

Checkpoint Inhibitors: T cells, which play an important role in the immune system, recognize foreign substances entering the body and take on a direct killing role. T cells have a significant duty in the defense line. Proteins that perform a kind of on-off function on these cells help activate the T cell. These proteins are called checkpoint proteins. However, under some abnormal conditions, checkpoint proteins that cause T cells to become passive prevent the fight against cancerous cells. In this case, inhibitory substances are administered to the body to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of T cells. These substances that stop checkpoint proteins are called checkpoint inhibitors.

Monoclonal Antibodies (MAB): These cells, which are responsible for recognizing foreign cells in the immune response, enable targeted treatment. In other words, with these antibodies produced in the laboratory, cancer cells can be recognized more easily and marked as targets for other immune cells.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy (CAR T-Cell Therapy): In this therapy method, there is a kind of genetic therapy for T cells. That is, T cells taken from the patient are altered in a laboratory environment through a series of genetic processes to become more active. The newly formed T cells injected into the body multiply and effectively fight against cancerous cells.

Cancer Vaccines: The cancer vaccines that have been developed are a kind of antibody treatment for cancer patients, unlike vaccines made before the disease occurs. Vaccines can be classified as DNA and RNA vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, protein vaccines, and virus vaccines. Additionally, vaccines made against diseases that cause cancer, such as HPV and HBV (Hepatitis B), are also protective against potential cancer risks.

Cytokines: In this therapy method, the aim is to produce a type of immunomodulator (immune regulator, supportive) cells with elements called cytokines in a laboratory environment.

Oncolytic Viruses: Genetically modified viruses are created in the laboratory to kill cancer cells and used in therapy.

Thanks to cancer research and clinical studies, successful treatments that will give hope to patients are providing positive results every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

The adequacy of the clinic chosen for immunotherapy and the experience of the physicians performing it directly affect the success of the treatment. Patients may have curiosity and anxiety about the treatment. Getting answers to frequently asked questions can reduce negative feelings for individuals.

Cancer can sometimes be physically and psychologically challenging. However, this disease is no longer hopeless as it used to be and can reach a definitive solution with various treatments. Immunotherapy is one of these treatments and is frequently applied. Choosing the right hospital and trusting the physician affects the success of the treatment. You can make an appointment immediately for innovative treatments to make this process easier in the doctor-patient trust relationship.