Immunotherapy - What is it and can it be used for Meso Treatment

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Immunotherapy is a collection of technologies that use the patients own immune system to battle cancer. Several approaches have been used and there is a tremendous amount of research going on in this area.

For many years the immune system was understood to be the bodies defense against foreign invaders. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and even worms are fought using the body's arsenal of immune cells like phagocytes that engulf and kill to other types of white blood cells called plasma cells that pump out antibodies. The antibodies have a number of functions. One is to attach to the invader make it vulnerable to attack by specialized white blood cells. Some of these cells produce specialized molecules called cytokines that can directly affect the body's systems like producing fever or signal killer cells to come and do their work.

More recently we have come to understand that the immune system often plays and important part in battling an invader from within: Cancer. The body's ability to form antibodies against tumor cells seems to play and important role in controlling the spread of disease and in some exceptional cases, the spontaneous remission of the disease. Scientists have been searching for ways to aid or even enhance these responses to treat cancer.

Some cytokines produced by white blood cells have been shown to have anti-tumor properties. Some of these include Interferon, Interleukins and Tumor Necrosis Factor. These proteins can be isolated and given to a patient. They are often called biological response modifiers because of their effect on the body. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is now used to treat Kidney Cancer and Melanoma. IL-2 stimulates the growth of T-Cells which are involved with keeping tumors under control.

Another form of Immunotherapy is the use of monoclonal antibodies. These artificial antibodies are produced in the laboratory in cell cultures. Monoclonal antibodies have been shown to enhance the body's immune response to the tumor in some cases. Herceptin is an approved monoclonal antibody used in certain breast cancers.

There are several monoclonal antibodies currently in development for mesothelioma treatment. Morphotek has an monoclonal antibody specific for mesothelin, a protein that is overexpressed on mesothelioma cells. They plan to submit an application for clinical trials this year.

As our understanding of the immune system grows, scientists continue to find ways to harness its power to fight cancer. With luck and hard work these efforts will hopefully bear fruit that those who suffer from mesothelioma can put to use in their fight.