Cancer immunotherapy
Why do we get cancer?
Approximately several thousand cancer cells are born in our bodies every day. The reason these cancer cells do not multiply and turn into cancer is because immune cells eliminate the cancer cells that are born every day. When this immune system stops functioning for some reason, the cancer cells begin to divide and multiply, growing into large masses and causing the disease known as cancer. "Immunotherapy" is a treatment that aims to shrink cancer or slow its growth by restoring or enhancing the function of the immune system, which is a natural defense against cancer in humans.
What is Immunity?
Immunity is the ability to eliminate foreign substances that enter the body, and is an ability that everyone is born with.
Immunity is divided into "cellular immunity" and "humoral immunity" depending on which entity is responsible for elimination. "Cellular immunity" is immunity that works with cells in the blood, while "humoral immunity" is immunity that works with liquid components in the blood (antibodies). These immune systems are used differently depending on the type of foreign substance; "cellular immunity" is responsible for eliminating foreign substances that have formed within the body, such as cancer cells, while "humoral immunity" is responsible for eliminating foreign substances that have invaded from the outside, such as pathogens. Th1 cells (type 1 helper T cells) act as the command center for "cellular immunity," while Th2 cells (type 2 helper T cells) act as the command center for "humoral immunity." Th1 and Th2 cells maintain a good balance by suppressing each other's actions.
In addition, once the immune response has been eliminated, it becomes unnecessary, and regulatory T cells also have the function of converging the immune response, which is carried out by regulatory T cells.
What is cancer immunotherapy, the “fourth cancer treatment”?
surgical treatment
(surgery)
chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
The fourth cancer treatment
immunotherapy
Currently, there are three types of cancer treatment: surgery, chemotherapy (treatment with anticancer drugs, including molecular targeted drugs), and radiation therapy, which are collectively known as the "three major cancer treatments."
In addition to these three major therapies, immunotherapy (Immunocare) has been attracting attention in recent years as the "fourth cancer treatment." Cancer immunotherapy aims to improve cancer by enhancing immune function.
However, cancer cells suppress the "cellular immunity" that attacks them, and by strengthening the activity of Th2 cells and inhibitory T cells, they prevent attacks from the immune system. This is the primary reason why cancer treatment is difficult.
Cancer immunotherapy (Immunocare) enhances cellular immunity and suppresses humoral immunity
In cancer immunotherapy, the combination of medicines and immune-stimulating foods enhances the function of Th1 cells, which are the command center of "cellular immunity," while suppressing the activity of Th2 cells. This is expected to have therapeutic effects such as preventing cancer growth or even shrinking it.
In recent years, various mechanisms by which cancer cells evade the immune system have been elucidated, and treatments for these have been developed, resulting in significant advances in immunotherapy.
Characteristics of our cancer immunotherapy
There are many different types of cancer immunotherapy. At our hospital, we work together with each patient to find and provide an approach that is tailored to their needs.
Treatment with fewer side effects
Immunotherapy involves scientifically cultivating the patient's own immune cells outside the body and then returning the proliferated immune cells to the patient, which has the advantage of having fewer side effects and making it less likely to cause serious side effects.It is also possible to treat people with low physical strength or the elderly.
Effective against cancers that are difficult to treat with the three major treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy)
Surgery and radiation therapy cannot be used on cancer that has metastasized throughout the body, but immunotherapy is a treatment that is generally applicable to most cancers, with the exception of a few cancers.
It may be effective even in cases where the three major treatments have become less effective. Another feature is that it can be treated regardless of the location of cancer cells or the stage of their progression.
Prevention and treatment of recurrent and metastatic cancer
Immunotherapy can attack even small cancer cells that remain in the body after cancer treatment, and is effective in preventing cancer recurrence.In addition, because immunotherapy has a systemic effect, it is also effective against metastatic cancer.
Improving therapeutic efficacy by combining with standard treatment
Immunotherapy can be used in combination with standard treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (anticancer drug treatment). By combining the most appropriate treatments for each patient, greater effectiveness can be expected.