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Biological Therapy for Cancer Treatment in Broadway

Biological Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer

Biological Therapy for Cancer Treatment in Broadway

Cancer cases are rising every day, posing a global health concern. Ongoing research and advancements in cancer treatment are continuous, making various treatment options available. Biological Therapy, also called Immunotherapy or Biotherapy, is one of these options. This cancer treatment uses the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells. The immune system protects the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, allergens, etc. However, this therapy uses biological agents such as monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, immune cell therapy, cytokines, and cancer vaccines to boost or restore the immune system's ability to recognise and destroy cancer cells. Biological Therapy can be used for the treatment of various cancers. 

  • Monoclonal antibodies target specific antigens present in cancer cells, marking them for destruction by immune cells.

  • Cytokines, like interferons and interleukins, enhance the activity of immune cells and boost the overall immune response. 

  • Cancer vaccines prompt the immune system to attack cancer cells by introducing antigens specific to the cancer. 

Biological therapy can be used alone or with other treatments such as Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy to enhance their effectiveness and potentially reduce side effects, improving treatment outcomes.

Manipal Hospitals, Broadway, has a team of expert oncologists offering patient-friendly services in Biological Therapy for Cancer Treatment using cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatment options like Biological Therapy. We ensure comprehensive cancer treatment with patient-centric care through our support groups and counselling sessions. Biological Therapy is a promising area of cancer treatment, offering tailored and less toxic alternatives to traditional methods. Many types of Biological Therapies are approved for treatment, but some are still in clinical trials, which can be assessed by being part of a clinical trial.

Experience world-class healthcare at Manipal Hospitals. Our expert team of doctors and state-of-the-art facilities ensure personalized and advanced treatments. Take the first step towards wellness. Book an appointment today.

FAQ's

Biological Therapy, sometimes referred to as Immunotherapy, uses materials derived from live things or artificially created in laboratories to strengthen the immune system's capacity to identify and eliminate cancer cells. Unlike conventional therapies, this strategy concentrates on immunological stimulation as opposed to specifically addressing cancer cells. It covers a wide range of tactics, including adoptive cell transfer treatments like CAR T-cell therapy, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
 

Biological therapies focus on enhancing the ability of the immune system, either directly or indirectly, and work in the following ways:

  • Make cancer cells more recognisable by the immune system, leading to better destruction by the immune system

  • Boosts the killing power of immune system cells

  • Changes the way cancer cells grow, making them act more like healthy cells

  • Stops the process that changes a normal cell into a cancerous cell

  • Enhances the body's ability to repair or replace the cells damaged or destroyed by other forms of cancer treatment, such as Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy

  • Prevents cancer cells from spreading to other body parts

Biological Therapy stimulates immune cells to more effectively identify and eliminate cancer cells, thereby leveraging the body's immune response. It also uses drugs that target particular chemicals in cancer cells to prevent them from proliferating and spreading. By directly disrupting the development pathways of cancer cells, this dual strategy seeks to strengthen the body's defences and advance more potent cancer treatment plans. Through these processes, Biological Treatment presents a comprehensive strategy for the fight against cancer, with the potential to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.
 

Various types of Biological Therapies are available. This is an emerging field of cancer treatment, with many therapies still under clinical trials.

  • Monoclonal Antibodies

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

  • Cytokine Therapy

  • Targeted Drug Therapy

  • Adoptive Cell Transfer

  • Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors

  • Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Therapy

  • Biochemotherapy

  • Cancer Vaccines

  • Gene Therapy

  • Immunoconjugates

  • Oncolytic Virus Therapy

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The approval of Biological Therapy represents a breakthrough in the management of a variety of cancers. It has proven effective in enhancing prognoses for patients with lymphoma, leukaemia, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma. Furthermore, Biological Therapy has demonstrated promise in treating specific subtypes of head and neck, breast, and colorectal cancers, increasing available treatment options and enhancing patient survival rates.
 

Biological Therapy can be used to treat various types of cancer, but whether you are the right candidate for this therapy or not, you need to check with your doctor. This is mainly used to target specific proteins or genes that help cancer grow and spread. 

The cancers that can be treated with Biological Therapy include:

  • Breast

  • Colon

  • Brain

  • Lung

  • Kidney

  • Melanoma

  • Lymphoma

  • Pancreas

  • Prostate

  • Liver

  • Skin

  • Head and neck

  • Cervical

  • Ovarian

A variety of techniques are included in Biological Therapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer therapies like CAR T-cell therapy, and monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies directly target cancer cells, whereas immune checkpoint inhibitors limit the action of the immune system. Cancer vaccinations boost immune recognition, and cytokines control the immune system's response to cancer. Through the engineering of immune cells for improved cancer targeting, adoptive cell transfer treatment provides a flexible defence against cancer.
 

Immunotherapy is usually given in an outpatient unit in the hospital, doctor’s clinic, or office. You can go home after the therapy. Biological Therapy can be given in different ways, such as intravenous (IV), orally in pills or capsule form, as a topical cream (skin cancer), or intravesical (goes into the bladder). 
 

Biological Therapy can cause immune-related side effects, even though it usually causes fewer side effects than Chemotherapy or Radiation. Common side effects include fatigue, flu-like symptoms, skin rashes, diarrhoea, and inflammation of the organs; however, the severity varies. Medical professionals keep a careful eye on patients receiving Biological Therapy to quickly address any side effects. In addition to improving patient comfort and well-being, proactive management techniques and patient education about possible side effects can maximise therapy results.
 

Specialists trained in treating cancers are responsible for providing Biological Therapy, such as oncologists or haematologist-oncologists. Other specialists, such as rheumatologists and gastroenterologists, can also provide this therapy. They work collaboratively with respective department specialists to achieve the best treatment outcomes. 
 

Many factors, such as the type and stage of the cancer, general health, and genetics, might affect how well a patient responds to Biological Therapy. Healthcare professionals use patient evaluation to customise treatment regimens to each patient's needs, maximising benefits and lowering risks. Although some individuals may greatly benefit from Biological Therapy, others may not respond as well, making other treatment alternatives necessary to take into account. To advance individualised cancer care, ongoing research attempts to improve therapy efficacy and optimise patient selection criteria.
 

This treatment offers various benefits, such as:

  • Lesser side effects than other cancer treatments

  • Shows better results for some types of cancer, where other treatments fail.

  • After getting activated, the immune system keeps killing cancer cells, thus reducing the chances of cancer recurrence.

  • Boost the treatment results of other cancer treatments when used along with them.

Combination therapy provides a multimodal approach to cancer treatment by combining Biological Therapy with additional treatments such as Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, or Surgery. By using many methods to target cancer cells, this synergistic strategy has the potential to improve patient outcomes and treatment efficacy. Healthcare professionals carefully evaluate each patient's individual needs, cancer features, and treatment objectives before customising combination therapy regimens. Coordinating efforts among various professionals guarantees patients receiving combination therapy optimal treatment and thorough care.
 

Biological Therapy can lead to various side effects, which also depend on the type of therapy used. The common ones are:

  • Swelling
  • Weakness
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chills or fever
  • Muscle aches
  • Diarrhoea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Rash or bruising
  • Damage to other organs
  • Mouth sores

Prioritising enough sleep and stress reduction will help patients' immune systems operate better while undergoing Biological Therapy are crucial lifestyle modifications for optimal therapy outcomes. People and their healthcare providers must have open lines of communication regarding any worries or modifications to their health. 

Medical professionals can evaluate treatment efficacy, manage potential adverse effects, and make appropriate modifications to the treatment plan when patients take their prescribed drugs as directed and show up for their regular follow-up sessions. While receiving Biological Therapy, patients are advised to get medical help as soon as they notice any new or worsening symptoms.
 

The duration and number of sessions you will need for Biological Therapy for your cancer treatment will be decided by the doctor based on some factors. These include the type of cancer, its stage, the type of Immunotherapy you will be receiving, and how your body reacts to the treatment. The treatment may be given daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the type of Immunotherapy. Generally, it is given in cycles with a rest period so that your body can recover and respond better to Immunotherapy treatment by building new healthy cells.
 

Follow-up appointments are regular for patients undergoing Biological Therapy. During the appointment, the doctor will do physical examinations and will ask you to undergo certain blood tests and different types of scans (as per the type of cancer) to see the progress of your tumour. Its size and other changes in blood tests will be assessed.
 

Continuous research is going on to improve the Biological Therapy treatment for cancer in various ways, including:

  • Using a combination of therapies such as Targeted Therapy, Immunotherapy, and Radiation Therapy to overcome resistance
  • Immunotherapy shows results only in a few people; thus, researchers are finding ways to predict which people will respond better to this treatment.
  • Understanding how cancer cells evade or suppress the immune system is necessary so that new drugs can be developed to block these processes.
  • Reduction in the side effects related to Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is a novel approach to cancer treatment and shows very promising potential for the treatment of various cancers in the future.


 

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