Antigen Specific Immunotherapies Antibody therapy uses different immune proteins that attack specific molecular targets such as Herceptin, which targets a type of breast cancer that overexpresses a growth factor receptor (Her2) or panitumumab - an antibody that targets the gene RAS, present in half of colorectal cancers. Transfer of T-cells (the killer cells of the immune system) isolated from a patient with cancer then cultivated to large numbers and reinfused back to the patient. The results are good but short-lived. Enormous efforts are put into expanding and maintaining the killer effect of the T cells. Specific Immunotherapy Vaccination of tumour-based vaccines, virusbased vaccines or protein and peptide-based vaccines. Check-point inhibitors act by releasing the brakes that stop the immune system unleashing the immune system to attack cancer cells. Cancer cells use check points to escape the detection of the immune system. CTLA4 and PD-1 are the most studied and drugs and include Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Nivolumab (Opdivo) and Ipilimumab (Yervoy), which are currently routinely used to treat melanomas. As evidence emerges that other cancers (lung cancer, head and neck carcinomas, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, some types of breast cancer and prostate cancer) can also respond to check point inhibitors, the management of cancers have changed dramatically. Patients that respond to these drugs have less side effects, and respond for longer periods of time, providing new hope for cancer sufferers around the world.
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Nine
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