What is the relationship between immunotherapy and the immune system?

What is the relationship between immunotherapy and the immune system?

One of the main objectives of the immune system is to detect and respond to germs from the body such as bacteria and abnormal cells such as cancer cells. Unfortunately, the full capabilities of the immune system to combat this disease are not yet fully understood, immunotherapy really helps to give a better quality of life to patients. Immunotherapy has the potential to be more precise, more personalized, and more effective than current cancer treatments, and, possibly, with fewer side effects.

We must keep in mind that cancer can be cured by our own immune system, but when it does not happen in this way, we must seek more aids to make this happen. These aids could be: educating the immune system to recognize and attack specific cancer cells, strengthen immune cells to help eliminate cancer, provide the body with other elements that enhance the immune response. A smart defense system able to differentiate healthy cells from tumor cells, immunotherapy helps patient’s immune system to recognize and fight tumor cells, without hurting healthy tissue to weaken tumor cells for more effective immune defense.

To get the body to fight this disease by itself, we can find several types of immunotherapy treatment such as: targeted antibodies, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer, viruses that are injected into tumors, checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, and adjuvants. Likewise, to enhance their effectiveness, there are many immunotherapy treatments to prevent, control or treat different types of cancer. They can also be used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or specific treatments.

This is how the immune system defends us from numerous pathogens and in the same way it could defend us from the different cancers that exist or, to keep them under control and if it cannot cure it, at least it could stop the cancer from progressing. However, to help our body to effectively combat this disease, an optimal immune system must be maintained and for this immunotherapy treatments must be carried out where certain medications are applied to the body to strengthen the immune system and cause the body to heal.

The potential of immunotherapy and its expectations to improve tumor treatment have grown exponentially, now scientists can complement the immune system by creating and adapting antibodies directed against certain types of cancer in the laboratory.

In general, any cancer can be treated with immunotherapy, such as head and neck cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and other skin cancers, liver cancer, lymphomas, leukemias, and there are currently clinical trials for the rest of the tumors. This benefit has been observed in the metastatic phase of these tumors, which has generated high expectations that it can be incorporated in earlier phases of the disease to increase the possibility of cure.

 

 

 

References:

 

Cancer Research Institute, C. R. I. (October 2020). What is Immunotherapy? Cancer Research Institute. https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy/what-is-immunotherapy?gclid=CjwKCAjwu5yYBhAjEiwAKXk_eA1spT3NZyLhvIpmqX70gSijKHd9bz_NPYDbcgbfMN094eVgEYsfYxoCYPgQAvD_BwE

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DIET RICH IN PALMITIC ACID PROMOTES CANCER METASTASIS

DIET RICH IN PALMITIC ACID PROMOTES CANCER METASTASIS

Studies have reported that a diet based on palmitic acid, which is found in vegetable palm oil used especially in fried foods, chocolates, cereals and others, makes tumor cells even more aggressive, producing a greater capacity for metastasis for patients with cancer. Studies show that palm oil is a saturated fat whose origin is vegetable, which is bad for humans because these fats go directly to the liver creating bad cholesterol. “Scientists from Instituto de Investigación Biomédica (IRB) in Barcelona led by the member of the Institución Catalana para la Investigación y Estudios Avanzados (ICREA), Dr. Salvador Aznar-Benitah, on 11/12/2021 have described the mechanism that a diet rich in palmitic acid makes tumor cells more aggressive, with a greater capacity to metastasize”

It is known that for a tumor cell to metastasize, it must first leave the tumor of origin and enter the blood or lymphatic vessels, to reach another vital organ and come to live there, causing more damage to people with cancer and causing this will accelerate their death. The worst aspect about palm oil is not the product, but the way it is processed due to its high temperatures, which produces chemical contaminants that have a toxic effect on the health of a person with cancer, causing modifications in the genome of metastatic cells, better known as epigenetic modifications, which are permanent and make them become more aggressive, which is called a stable memory.

Unfortunately, palmitic acid is found in many products that we consume daily and for cancer patients it is worse since it promotes metastasis in their body. Despite this it is essential in our daily diet, it is bad when we abuse its consumption.

These results reveal that a diet rich in palm oil would be detrimental and helps the development of cancer even in its initial phase where the primary tumor has not yet been detected, so we should reduce its consumption as much as possible and avoid any excess.

 

References:

 

Torres, E. Q. (2021, 12 noviembre). El aceite de palma promueve la metástasis del cáncer. ELMUNDO. https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2021/11/10/618bed47e4d4d8aa748b45ed.html

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THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NIVOLUMAB AND CHEMOTHERAPY AGAINST LUNG AND STOMACH CANCER

It is known that immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that stimulates the body’s defenses to fight cancer by destroying cancer cells, there are several types of immunotherapies, one of them helps the immune system to stop or slow down growth of cancer cells, others help the immune system destroy cancer cells or stop cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Immunotherapy treatments can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments (Cancer.Net 05/2020).

Almost the majority of patients usually have surgeries as a treatment against lung cancer, but unfortunately it mostly comes back, but after a study called CheckMate 816, it has been discovered that treatment with the immunotherapy drug nivolumab (opdivo) and chemotherapy combined before surgery effectively delay the progression or return of cancer, so patients who have received this combination treatment have lived longer and without serious complications than those who have not.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to detect lung cancer before it spreads outside the lungs, patients have surgery to remove the tumor, but sadly even when the cancer is in its early stage and the entire tumor is removed, the cancer comes back.

FDA has approved nivolumab as a neoadjuvant treatment in combination with chemotherapy for people with early-stage lung cancer. Scientific advances in lung cancer are long overdue, but are noted for their gargantuan advances. Combination immunotherapy is known to be a standard treatment that will almost certainly improve overall survival for people with early-stage disease. The results of the CheckMate 816 study were presented in April at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and published at the same time in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

This is how immunotherapy is revolutionizing cancer treatment. Preliminary data talk about its efficacy in several malignant diseases, such as lung cancer, which is one of the most common. Immunotherapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, has significantly improved the results of patients fighting cancer in general.

It has also been found that some people with advanced stomach cancer live longer if they receive initial treatment with nivolumab (Opdivo) and chemotherapy, this study is called CheckMate 649, but the latest results also demonstrate that this approach can also benefit early-stage patients. It is known that the majority of patients do very well with this new combination therapy and have few side effects.

Therefore, we must know that it is not possible to prevent all cancers, however, you can take measures that can reduce the risks of contracting this disease, such as do not smoke, avoid smoke from people who smoke, avoid or limit exposure to cancer-causing agents, eat healthy foods, in general try to lead a healthy life without excesses.

References:

 

El nivolumab es eficaz contra el cáncer de estómago avanzado. (2020, 3 December). Instituto Nacional del Cáncer. https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/noticias/temas-y-relatos-blog/2020/cancer-estomago-inmunoterapia-nivolumab

Qué es la inmunoterapia. (2022, 3 June). Cancer.Net. https://www.cancer.net/es/desplazarse-por-atenci%C3%B3n-del-c%C3%A1ncer/c%C3%B3mo-se-trata-el-c%C3%A1ncer/inmunoterapia-y-vacunas/qu%C3%A9-es-la-inmunoterapia

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DID YOU KNOW THAT ONLY ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE AGAINST HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION (HPV INFECTION) CAN AVOID CERVICAL CANCER?

There is data showing that just one dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is effective in protecting young women against infection of the cervix due to the types of HPV that cause cancer. The existing HPV vaccines noticeably reduce the risk of contracting cervical cancer, but unfortunately very few people have access to this vaccine, some due to lack of guidance and others due to insufficient medical care. With just one dose of this HPV vaccine, it would be enough to counteract this virus and, in this way, it would be faster and less expensive for the countries, thus making more girls to be vaccinated against this virus. This study was called KEN SHEN in Kenya by Dr. Kreimer who was the leader in this research which is part of a global project to make these vaccines more accessible throughout the world.

One of the main causes of death in women is cervical cancer, mainly in countries with fewer economic resources, of which 90% of deaths are due to this cause. Although we have had this HPV vaccine since 2006, the lack of information for some people and lack of accessibility in health centers for others have caused millions of deaths in women, this vaccine prevents infections caused by the different types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. Since HPV is transmitted mainly by sexual contact, this vaccine is mainly aimed at children and young people, but in 2019 only 15% of these people in the world had received two doses of this vaccine, lamentably there are many countries that have economic deficiencies inasmuch they do not have HPV vaccination programs or the necessary medical infrastructure for this purpose, where preventive cervical exams and early cancer detection are also carried out.

New studies confirm that the general use of the HPV vaccine decreases cervical cancer, especially when women are vaccinated in their childhood, definitely this vaccine that can save lives. Without a doubt, the diagnosis of cervical cancer is devastating, that is why it is important to be vaccinated against this HPV virus, especially at an early age in order to take advantage of its benefits. Parents often hesitate to vaccinate their children early, since many of them want to wait until their children are 18 years old, since many want to wait for their children to decide on their own between getting vaccinated or not, it is understandable for a parent to think this but even so we will be losing the opportunity to be more effective by not getting vaccinated earlier.

It is also important to take into account that human papillomavirus vaccination before to surgery for precancerous cervical lesions greatly reduced recurrences. Women diagnosed with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), since these patients are at high risk of the lesions recurring after the surgery and also other malignant neoplasms related by HPV. (Charles Bankhead, senior editor, Medpage. August 5/2022).

Many studies have shown that HPV vaccination can prevent infection and infection-related diseases when given to boys and girls from a very young age, and this vaccine can have positive and helpful effects against new infections and reinfections of the HPV for women who already have lesions with a high level of CIN, so it is very important that all women with or without HPV lesion are vaccinated to prevent and even treat this disease.

References:

National Cancer Institute, N. C. I. Vacuna VPH previene cáncer de cuello uterino estudio sueco. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer. https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/noticias/temas/-relatos-blog/2020/vacuna-vph-previene-cancer-cuello-uterino-estudio-sueco.

National Cancer Institute, N. C. I. (2022, 13 July). Una dosis de la vacuna contra el VPH previene infecciones que causan cáncer. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer. https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/noticias/temas-y-relatos-blog/2022/kenia-una-dosis-vacuna-vph-cancer-cuello-uterino

Bankhead, C. (2022, 5 August). HPV Vaccination Close to Surgery May Reduce Recurrent Cervical Lesions. MedPage Today.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/cervicalcancer/100052?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2022-08-04&eun=g1420706d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Evening%202022-08-04&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition

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source https://williamscancerinstitute.com/did-you-know-that-only-one-dose-of-the-vaccine-against-human-papillomavirus-infection-hpv-infection-can-avoid-cervical-cancer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=did-you-know-that-only-one-dose-of-the-vaccine-against-human-papillomavirus-infection-hpv-infection-can-avoid-cervical-cancer