8 Types of Biological Therapy, Latest Treatment for Cancer

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Medical Video: 4. Advances in Immunotherapy for Cancer Treatment

Cancer is synonymous with degenerative conditions of the body with slow damage due to the growth of abnormal cells in certain body parts. Cancer treatment itself is different. Starting from using chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of the three. In addition to these three types of interventions, there is also a new method of biological therapy.

Differences in biological therapy with other cancer therapy methods

Both biological therapy and chemotherapy work by damaging cancer cells, but the workings of the two are different.

Chemotherapy works by triggering the death of cancer cells that have spread (metastasis) before the cancer is intervened with surgery or cancer cells that are still left over from chemotherapy and radiation treatment methods. Chemotherapy uses certain chemicals. However, often this method produces damage to cells around the growth of cancer.

While biological therapy works by damaging cancer cells directly or indirectly by triggering an immune system reaction to attack the cancer cells. Biological therapy uses living organisms, both those produced in the human body or in laboratory engineering that are intentionally made to fight cancer cells.

Types of biological therapy

At present there are various applied biological therapies to treat cancer. Here are some types of biological therapies that have been developed.

1. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a therapeutic method that triggers the work of the immune system, especially white blood cells, to detect damage and attack abnormal cells from the development of cancer. In addition, immunotherapy also aims to encourage anticancer immune response processes and improve the immunosuppressive effects caused by cancer cells.

2. Antibodies monoclonal

Also known as MAb, this cancer therapy method uses one component of the immune system in the form of genetically modified antibodies between humans and mice. MAb has several mechanisms to fight cancer cells. Among them is by stimulating an immune reaction to fight cancer cells, inhibiting damage caused by cancer cells, and preventing tumor growth.

3. Cytokine therapy

Cytokine therapy is carried out using interferon (INF) and interleukin (IL) proteins to increase the immune response to fight cancer cells. Cytokines also play a role in encouraging blood cell production, this effect is also beneficial to overcome the side effects of chemotherapy which can have an impact on blood cell production.

4. Cancer vaccine

In contrast to the term vaccine in general, cancer vaccines are used to treat cancer cells that have developed. The cancer vaccine stimulates B cells and T cells to damage cancer cells.

5. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Therapy

TB bacteria are chosen because they can trigger an immune response in general to fight cancer cells. The anticancer effect of TB bacteria in BCG has not been fully revealed but its efficacy has been tested. Approximately 70 percent of patients with early stage bladder cancer reach the remission phase (absence of cancer) after receiving this therapy.

6. Oncolytic virus therapy

Some viruses such as reovirus, Newcastle, adenovirus, mumps, and vaccinia can be genetically engineered to attack cancer cells. This therapy works by infecting and damaging cancer cells by the replication method. Although it can attack healthy normal cells, the effects tend to be small.

7. Gene therapy

Method of therapy by injecting genetic material (DNA and RNA) of normal cells against cancer cells using vectors that can be either viruses or fat particles. Genetic material that is inserted into cancer cells aims to destroy or inhibit the development of cancer cells.

8. Adoptive T cell therapy

By using T cells from a modified blood sample of cancer patients, this method of therapy works by triggering a gene reaction on the surface of the cancer cell to attack and cause damage. This method has been applied to various cancer cases such as melanoma, haematological cancer, and cancer with solid tumors.

Side effects of biological therapy

Although it can work more specifically to only attack cancer cells, biological therapy has various side effects. These include allergic reactions, flu symptoms, swelling, redness, itching and rashes, to decrease in blood cells.

In addition, other side effects that may result are more serious, depending on the type of treatment. Here are the details.

  • Therapy for MAB and cytokines is known as the side effects of cell decline and changes in the chemical components of blood cells and damage to organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and brain.
  • BCG therapy can trigger urinary disorders such as pain and pain when urinating and bleeding urine.
  • Oncolotic virus therapy is associated with tumor lysis syndrome caused by the entry of cancer components into the bloodstream. This condition is serious and can be fatal.
  • Gene therapy is associated with viral infections, the emergence of secondary cancers, and healthy cell damage due to errors in the insertion of genetic material in normal cells.
8 Types of Biological Therapy, Latest Treatment for Cancer
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