Journal of Cancer Research and Immuno-Oncology
Open Access

Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Vaccines: Targeted Immunotherapy Approaches

Philip Dharam^{* *}Correspondence: Philip Dharam, Department of Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA, Email:

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Description

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. It is a rapidly advancing field of cancer research and treatment that has shown tremendous promise in recent years. Immunotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy [1]. The immune system is the body's natural defence against disease, including cancer. It is made up of various cells, tissues, and organs that work together to identify and destroy abnormal cells, such as cancer cells. However, cancer cells can sometimes evade the immune system's surveillance and grow and spread uncontrollably. Immunotherapy works by enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and attack cancer cells. There are several types of immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) cell therapy, monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, and cytokines [2]. Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block certain proteins on the surface of cancer cells that help them evade the immune system. By blocking these proteins, checkpoint inhibitors allow the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Some checkpoint inhibitors are approved for the treatment of various types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer, and kidney cancer [3].

CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that involves genetically modifying a patient's own immune cells (T cells) to recognize and attack cancer cells. The modified T cells are then infused back into the patient's body, where they can seek out and destroy cancer cells. CAR-T cell therapy has shown remarkable success in treating certain types of blood cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphoma. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratorymade proteins that can target specific proteins on the surface of cancer cells. By binding to these proteins, monoclonal antibodies can either directly kill cancer cells or stimulate the immune system to attack them. Some monoclonal antibodies are approved for the treatment of various types of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. Cancer vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Unlike traditional vaccines, which are designed to prevent infectious diseases, cancer vaccines are used to treat existing cancer [4]. Some cancer vaccines are approved for the treatment of certain types of cancer, such as prostate cancer and bladder cancer.

Cytokines are naturally occurring proteins that can stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. Interferon’s and interleukins are two types of cytokines that have been used in cancer treatment. They can be given as injections or infusions and can cause a wide range of side effects, including flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and low blood counts. Immunotherapy has shown tremendous promise in treating various types of cancer.

It has been particularly successful in treating melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. However, not all patients respond to immunotherapy, and some may experience significant side effects [5]. One of the biggest challenges in developing effective immunotherapies is identifying biomarkers that can predict which patients will respond to treatment. Biomarkers are molecular or genetic characteristics that can indicate whether a patient is likely to respond to a particular treatment. Identifying biomarkers can help doctors select the most appropriate treatment for each patient and improve the overall success rate of immunotherapy. Another challenge in developing effective immunotherapies is overcoming tumor resistance. Cancer cells can evolve and adapt to evade the immune system, making it difficult to develop therapies that can keep up with these changes. Researchers are working on developing new strategies to overcome tumor resistance, including combination therapies that target multiple pathways and novel immunotherapies that can stimulate the immune system in new ways [6]. Immunotherapy is a promising and rapidly advancing field of cancer research and treatment. It has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and improve outcomes for patients with various types of cancer.

References

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