Immunotherapy

Cancer Treatment Options

The body's immune system is responsible for attacking external "intruders" such as bacteria and viruses to maintain health. Normally, cancer cells that suddenly grow in the body should also be one of the targets of the immune system, but this is not a given. Some cancer cells send signals to hide from the immune system or even prevent the system from functioning properly. Cancer immunotherapy is a medication that eliminates the cancer cells’ masquerade and is administered intravenously so that the body's immune system can correctly identify cancer cells as intruders, thus killing cancer cells and tumors. Cancers that are suitable for immunotherapy include: lung cancer, liver cancer, oesophageal cancer, stomach cancer, etc. For more information on immunotherapy, please contact reVIVE Oncology and Cancer Centre.

Immunotherapy was introduced to Hong Kong in 2015 and was initially approved for the treatment of advanced lung cancer, melanoma and kidney cancer. Later, it has been approved for the treatment of various other types of cancers, such as head and neck cancer, certain types of mammary cancer, stomach cancer, certain types of lymphoma, liver cancer and so on. In addition to advanced cancers, immunotherapy has also been used in recent years for some intermediate cancers, such as maintenance therapy after adopting chemotherapy and radiotherapy for stage III lung cancer, which is not suitable for surgery.

Duration

Current immunotherapy drugs are administered for about 2 to 4 weeks per dose. The drug should be discontinued for at least 2 years for patients with advanced tumor for optimal effect. The most common type of immunotherapy is called “immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICIs”. It blocks the junction of PD-L1 in tumor cells and PD-1 in immune cells. This blockade allows or immune cells to recognize tumors as enemies and thus attack them. It helps the immune system to actively destroy cancer cells.

Immunotherapy VS Other Cancer Therapies

Studies have shown that cancer immunotherapy can achieve longer-lasting remission because after treatment, the immune system is able to remember cancer cells and continue to attack them. In contrast, the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is usually shorter-term and may result in drug resistance. Clinical studies have shown that the response to immunotherapy for cancer is more durable, even after the end of treatment. Overall, the main difference between immunotherapy and traditional treatments is that:

Immunotherapy targets the body’s immune system, not cancer.
It stimulates the immune system to selectively identify cancer cells and attack them
It provides the immune system with a lasting memory that allows it to recognize cancer over time, providing a long-lasting anti-cancer response

Immunotherapy is particularly indicated for the following cancers:

Lung Cancer
Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Melanoma
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer
Hodgkin Lymphoma
Oesophageal Cancer
Stomach Cancer
Cervical Cancer (a common type of Gynecological Cancer)
Bladder Cancer

Immunotherapy for cancer is usually administered by intravenous injection. In recent years, oral immunotherapy has been developed both overseas and in China. The frequency of treatment can range from once every two weeks to several months. They vary according to the following five considerations:

No impairment of healthy immune response and cell production
The type and stage of cancer
The type of immunotherapy receiving
The time required for recovery
The body’s reaction to immunotherapy

Side Effects

Compared to conventional treatments, cancer immunotherapy works by strengthening the patient's immune system, so it may take a longer time to see results. However, the common side effects are relatively mild, such as