Cancer Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy isn’t a straightforward type of treatment, and there are multiple types of it based on how it’s performed and what it aims to accomplish. So let’s look over the different types of immunotherapy doctors can offer to patients

Adoptive Cell Therapy (T-cell Transfer Therapy)

Adoptive cell therapy, more simply known as T-cell transfer therapy, is a type of immunotherapy during which a patient’s immune cells are altered so they could better fight off the cancer cells.

There are two different types of T-cell therapy: CAR T-cell therapy and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL).

The process of performing both of these therapies is very similar. They involve collecting immune cells from the patient, growing a large number of the cells in a laboratory using the specimen taken from the patient, and then injecting those lab-grown cells intravenously via a needle.

Growing T-cells in a lab is a process that can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks. While this is taking place, the patient will most likely receive chemotherapy and, in some cases, radiotherapy. This is done to get rid of other immune cells in the patient’s body so they can be ready to receive the lab-grown cells.

CAR T-Cell Therapy

As we mentioned, these two types of therapy are very similar, but it’s still important to make the distinction.

CAR T-cell therapy is performed so the cells which are grown in the lab can create a protein known as chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR for short.

These types of cells are designed in such a way that they attach to specific proteins located on the surface of the cancer cells in an attempt to improve their ability to fight off the cancerous cells.

TIL Therapy

This type of therapy is done with the use of T-cells by the name of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or TIL for short. A medical professional will test the patient’s lymphocytes in the laboratory and determine which ones are able to recognize the tumor cells.

Once it’s determined which TILs have the most potential to treat the cancer cells, they are treated with substances that will allow them to quickly grow to larger numbers. And after this process is complete, the T-cells will be injected into your body.

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer vaccines, also known as treatment or therapeutic vaccines, are a type of immunotherapy treatment. These vaccines boost the immune system and make it easier for it to fight off cancer cells.

There are different types of cancer vaccines and the doctor will choose if and which vaccine a patient should receive.

A cancer vaccine can keep the disease from coming back, stop a tumor from spreading and growing, or destroy any cancer cells that were left remaining after treatment was completed.

(Immune) Checkpoint Inhibitors

Checkpoint proteins come from T-cells, and their main goal is to activate an immune response, and that response is turned off by other proteins. In some cases, T-cells can stay active for much longer than needed and destroy healthy tissues and cells because they’re reacting to things they shouldn’t be reacting to.

However, some cancers can also produce high levels of protein just like T-cells, for example melanoma and lung cancer. Due to this high level of protein, the T-cells believe they need to switch off, which ultimately makes the immune system come to a stop. And in that case, the T-cells don’t recognize cancer anymore nor do they try to attack it.

This is why doctors need to use checkpoint inhibitors for certain types of cancers.

Checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that works by blocking different checkpoint proteins that are created by cancerous cells. The purpose of this type of immunotherapy is to turn on the immune system and allow T-cells to recognize and fight off the cancer cells.

Immunomodulators (non-specific immunotherapy)

Immunomodulators are molecules that stimulate the immune system in a general way but don’t target cancer cells specifically, which is why this type of treatment is known as non-specific immunotherapy.

Some immunomodulators are used as cancer treatment all on their own while others are used alongside the main treatment in order to boost the immune system.

We can differentiate two types of immunomodulator treatment: cytokines and monoclonal antibody therapy.

Cytokines

Cytokines are molecules that are in charge of the regulation of the growth, maturation, and responsiveness of immune cells, and when used as treatment, they are injected into the patient. This is done either in a vein, under the skin, or into a muscle.

We can divide cytokines into interferons and interleukins.

Interferons are chemicals that help the body resist cancers, infections, and viruses. Interleukins are a group of cytokines that allow the cells in the immune system to grow and divide more rapidly, and they do this by acting as chemical signals between white blood cells.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, or BCG for short, is a germ that has the ability to infect the tissues inside the human body without causing serious disease. On the contrary, it helps activate the immune system which makes it perfect for immunotherapy.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

Antibodies are a part of the human immune system, they’re naturally occurring and they help us fight off infection and illnesses. And monoclonal antibodies, or MABs for short, are copies of a certain type of antibody.

MABs are created in a lab as a copy of just one type of antibody and they can work against different types of illnesses, not just cancer. Depending on what the medical professional wants to accomplish, MBAs can work in different ways.

When they’re used for cancer treatment, MBAs typically trigger the immune system, which allows it to fight off cancer cells. Additionally, different MBSa are used for different cancers.