by Isabella Dutta
June 4, 2014
A pilot study by the National Cancer Institute is in the rapidly advancing field of cancer immunotherapy, which explores the body’s natural ways of attacking tumors. Doctors report exciting recent gains made with immune therapies against leukemia, melanoma, bladder, lung and even cervical cancer. The latter is of particular interest because it is the first time that such successful results have been achieved against a cancer caused by a virus.
Private companies are also researching immune therapy, which involves isolating the special immune cells that develop in the body to fight against cancer and then multiplying them in the lab before infusing them back into the body. Drugs are delivered alongside to boost the body’s natural immune response.
The results achieved so far are still considered experimental and, though results have been promising, there are some worries about side effects and cost of treatment. Nor is there any information about the permanence of the treatment.
Source: AP June 2nd, 2014
