Immunotherapy
To put it simply, immunotherapy uses the patient's immune system or their own cancer cells to attack the tumor.
Immunotherapies are used for one of two reasons. First, it is used to work up the immune system to go against the brain tumor. Or second, for targeting specific abnormalities in brain tumor cells that involved in the tumors growth.
Basically, immunotherapy boosts the immune system so the patient is more able to fight against the cancer.
Immunotherapy is better for some cancers than others. For some, this is the only treatment you want to use. For others, it is best used with other treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and neurosurgery.
The side effects of immunotherapy are:
There are several different types of immunotherapy:
"Biological Response Modifiers: Substances that trigger the immune system to indirectly affect tumors.
Colony-Stimulating Factors: Substances that stimulate the production of blood cells. They do not directly affect tumors but through their role in stimulating blood cells they can be helpful as support of the person's immune system during cancer treatment.
Tumor Vaccines: Researchers are developing vaccines that may encourage the patient's immune system to recognize cancer cells. These would in theory work in a similar way as vaccines for measles, mumps and small pox. The difference in cancer treatment is that vaccines are used after someone has cancer. The vaccines would be given to prevent the cancer from returning or to get the body to reject tumor lumps (Cleveland Clinic).
Monoclonal Antibodies: Laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells wherever they are in the body. They do this by reacting against tumor-associated proteins on the surface of the cancer cell. These antibodies can be used to see where the tumor is in the body (detection), or as therapy to deliver drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to a tumor (Cleveland Clinic)."
(from Cleveland Clinic)
Cited:
"Immunotherapy." Cleveland Clinic. The Cleveland Clinic, n.d. Web. 7 Jun 2012. <http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/immunotherapy.aspx>
"What is Immunotherapy?." American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 6 Jun 2012. <http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/TreatmentTypes/Immunotherapy/immunotherapy-what-is-immunotherapy>.
Written by the Philly Tribune Staff:"Immunotherapy Tested on Brain Tumors." Philly Tribune. Philadelphia Tribune, 20 Dec 2011. Web. 6 Jun 2012. <http://www.phillytrib.com/healtharticles/item/2027-immunotherapy-tested-on-brain-tumors.html>.
Immunotherapies are used for one of two reasons. First, it is used to work up the immune system to go against the brain tumor. Or second, for targeting specific abnormalities in brain tumor cells that involved in the tumors growth.
Basically, immunotherapy boosts the immune system so the patient is more able to fight against the cancer.
Immunotherapy is better for some cancers than others. For some, this is the only treatment you want to use. For others, it is best used with other treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and neurosurgery.
The side effects of immunotherapy are:
- fever
- chills
- nausea
- appetite loss
- rashes or swelling on injected site
- possible decrease in blood pressure
- fatigue
- bone pain
- allergic reactions
There are several different types of immunotherapy:
"Biological Response Modifiers: Substances that trigger the immune system to indirectly affect tumors.
Colony-Stimulating Factors: Substances that stimulate the production of blood cells. They do not directly affect tumors but through their role in stimulating blood cells they can be helpful as support of the person's immune system during cancer treatment.
Tumor Vaccines: Researchers are developing vaccines that may encourage the patient's immune system to recognize cancer cells. These would in theory work in a similar way as vaccines for measles, mumps and small pox. The difference in cancer treatment is that vaccines are used after someone has cancer. The vaccines would be given to prevent the cancer from returning or to get the body to reject tumor lumps (Cleveland Clinic).
Monoclonal Antibodies: Laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells wherever they are in the body. They do this by reacting against tumor-associated proteins on the surface of the cancer cell. These antibodies can be used to see where the tumor is in the body (detection), or as therapy to deliver drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to a tumor (Cleveland Clinic)."
(from Cleveland Clinic)
Cited:
"Immunotherapy." Cleveland Clinic. The Cleveland Clinic, n.d. Web. 7 Jun 2012. <http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/immunotherapy.aspx>
"What is Immunotherapy?." American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 6 Jun 2012. <http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/TreatmentTypes/Immunotherapy/immunotherapy-what-is-immunotherapy>.
Written by the Philly Tribune Staff:"Immunotherapy Tested on Brain Tumors." Philly Tribune. Philadelphia Tribune, 20 Dec 2011. Web. 6 Jun 2012. <http://www.phillytrib.com/healtharticles/item/2027-immunotherapy-tested-on-brain-tumors.html>.