Immunotherapy: The next generation of cancer treatment

Abstract

Immunotherapy is a method of cancer treatment that uses the patient's immune system to attack the tumor cells more effectively. Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Most types of cancer are treated using a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Recently, immunotherapy has become a standard treatment for patients with various types of cancer.

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest types of solid cancer. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in using immunotherapy to treat lung cancer after seeing positive results using immune checkpoint inhibitors. Indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma establishes key interactions with the immune microenvironment to ensure survival and prevent antitumor immune activation. However, several immunotherapy approaches have been developed to boost these effects. The last decade witnessed several treatment options for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, first-line treatment and second-line treatment after relapse.

Immunotherapy has several different types and ways of treating cancer by targeting the immune system, not the tumor itself. The adoptive T-cell transfer is a new area of transfusion medicine. Adoptive cell therapy provides an additional treatment option for patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as one of the most promising therapeutic options for patients in the history of cancer treatment. This group of drugs releases the brakes of the immune system. Monoclonal antibodies are being used for the treatment of various diseases. As of March 2017, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved approximately 60 therapeutic Monoclonal antibodies. Oncolytic virus therapy has recently been recognized as a promising new therapy. Oncolytic viruses are genetically engineered or naturally occurring viruses that selectively replicate in and kill cancer cells. Cancer vaccines are designed to promote tumor-specific immune responses and prevent or treat cancer. Immune System Modulators Drugs activate the immune system and become more powerful and able to destroy cancer cells. 

Due to the development of unique therapies based on the activation of immunotherapy mechanisms against cancer growth made in recent years, we have witnessed advancements in cancer treatment options. However, most patients with advanced-stage of cancer remain with almost no treatment options.