Principles of Immunotherapy treatment

Immunotherapy is an excellent therapeutic armamentarium In the field of Medical Oncology.

This has given an additional treatment tool to treat the cancer patient in advanced stages.

Principles of Immunotherapy treatment : 

1. IMMUNOTHERAPY activates bodys own Immune system like T cells which then attacks the cancer cells and kills them.

2. The efficacy of Immunotherapy depends on the coordination of the various Immune cells inside the tumors microenviroment..

3. Immunotherapy basically teaches the Immune system to slow down,stop and kill the cancer cell's 

4. Immunotherapy creates a long lasting memory inside the Immune cells and kills the cancer cells. Due to long lasting memory, even after stopping the immunotherapy treatment, the learned Immune cells continue to fight against the cancer cells

5. Baseline PDL-1 testing and TMB status serves as a immunological marker to assess the treatment efficacy..

6. In selected patients, Immunotherapy results in Excellent DURABLE response leading to long-term lasting remission 

7. Effective in different  advanced stage of cancers 

8. Immunotherapy does not cause collateral damage to normal cells like chemotherapy.

8. Immunotherapy heightens the Immune system so that the activated Immune cells attacks the Cancer cells directly and spares the normal cells

10 Immunotherapy side effects differs from Chemotherapy. There is no Hair Loss, Cytopenias, Vomiting, like we see with chemotherapy 

11. Immunotherapy side effects are based on Inflammation of various organs which mimics like an  autoimmune disease.

12. Immunotherapy may work better than chemotherapy in selected cases. 

13. Selection of cases depends on the various factors like,  type of cancer, PDL testing, TMB status, and underlying autoimmune diseases

14. Common cancers where immunotherapy has been found to be effective are Melanoma, Lung Cancer, Gastrointestinal cancers Lymphomas, Head and Neck Cancers. There are many other cancers where immunotherapy Trials are ongoing.

Ultimately, the best treatment plan for a cancer patient varies. The best way   is to consult your Medical Oncologist. A Cancer specislist with expertise in Medical Oncologist are experts in providing Immunotherapy treatment. Your Medical Oncologist will gather the patient’s health history, run a variety of tests and determine the best way to slow or stop the growth of cancer, while also addressing symptoms.