Mesothelioma TreatmentOther Therapies
Immunotherapy
Doctors are on the cutting edge of a number of additional kinds of therapies that might offer promise in the treatment of many different types of cancer. Researchers believe that immunotherapy is one of these options.
Some oncologists often hesitate to suggest anything to their patients aside from the traditional forms of cancer treatment; namely, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. But more and more doctors are now touting immunotherapy as the fourth option in the treatment of cancer.
What is Immunotherapy?
Ones own immune system can be a strong tool in the fight against cancer and other diseases. Immunotherapy calls that theory into play. Sometimes called biologic therapy, immunotherapy uses certain parts of the bodys immune system to fight disease. This is often achieved by introducing an outside source that will stimulate the immune system to work harder or simply by stimulating the bodys existing immune system. Sometimes, immunotherapy is suggested in conjunction with traditional therapies but may also be used by itself.
Am I a Candidate for Immunotherapy?
Doctors and researchers continue to study mesothelioma and the advantages of treatments like immunotherapy in slowing or halting the disease. Results continue to be compiled.
What are the Types of Immunotherapy Available?
Sometimes, an individuals body fails to recognize cancer cells as foreign or the bodys response to any present cancer cells may not be strong enough to fight them. Immunotherapies have been developed to assist the immune system in recognizing cancer cells and to help the body strengthen its response against such cells.
Currently, there are two forms of immunotherapy.
- Active immunotherapies - these are used to stimulate the bodys already-existing immune system in hopes that it will battle the cancer cells. This category includes cancer vaccines. A cancer vaccine contains cancer cells, parts of cells, or pure antigens. Like most vaccines, it increases the immune response against cancer cells that are already present in the body.
- Passive immunotherapies - these treatments make use of immune system components (such as antibodies) created outside of the body. Scientists have manufactured monoclonal antibodies that react with specific antigens on certain types of cancer cells. Researchers are constantly working to develop new passive immunotherapies. Recently, a clinical trial showed that adding a monoclonal antibody called Avastin to standard chemotherapy treatments helped extend the lives of mesothelioma patients by a few months.
