Lung cancer remains the most prevalent cancer globally, affecting approximately 2.1 million individuals annually and claiming 1.7 million lives each year. To put this into perspective, lung cancer claims more lives annually than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined.

But behind these statistics are real people – parents, siblings, friends, and loved ones. And while these numbers might seem daunting, there’s a revolutionary treatment changing the landscape of lung cancer care: immunotherapy. This breakthrough approach offers new hope to patients with limited options, transforming survival rates and quality of life for many facing this diagnosis.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy for cancer, often called immuno-oncology, represents a medical approach that harnesses the body’s immune system to combat cancer. The immune system is a defense mechanism against harmful external agents, such as bacteria and viruses. When functioning optimally, it identifies and attacks substances that are not meant to be present in the body. Additionally, the immune system is equipped with safeguards to prevent it from targeting normal bodily organs. 

Cancer poses a unique challenge for the immune system, as cancer cells originate from normal organ cells and retain certain familiar characteristics. However, upon transformation into cancerous cells, they develop new traits that should ideally be recognized as foreign and marked for immune elimination. Immunotherapy medications for lung cancer assist the body in identifying these cancerous cells as harmful entities, enabling a more effective immune response against them.

Working of Immunotherapy For Lung Cancer

Your immune system is composed of various cell types that collaborate to identify foreign infections within your body. These cells differentiate between harmful substances and benign ones through the interaction of a protein found on the surface of the foreign entity and a protein present in the immune cell. When an immune cell identifies a foreign cell as non-threatening, it can navigate through your body without issue.

Certain cancer cells can evade detection by the immune system by presenting a protein on their surface that mimics safety. This is where immunotherapy plays a crucial role. Immunotherapy medications assist your immune system in recognizing cancer cells, even when they attempt to conceal themselves.

Most lung cancer immunotherapy drugs that have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) function by interfering with the interaction between the PD-L1 protein on cancer cells and the PD-1 receptor on immune T-cells. Additionally, another immunotherapy drug targets the CTLA-4 protein on immune T-cells. By disrupting these connections, T-cells become more adept at identifying and responding to cancer cells.

Also read, Immunotherapy in Advanced-Staged Lung Cancer: Hoe Does it Work?

What Makes Immunotherapy Different From Traditional Treatments? 

• Your body learns to fight cancer on its own. Even after treatment ends, your immune system can remember how to recognize and attack cancer cells if they return.
• Side effects are often (though not always) less severe than chemotherapy. Since immunotherapy targets your immune system rather than attacking all rapidly dividing cells, many patients report feeling more like themselves during treatment.
• Some patients experience remarkably long-lasting responses. While it doesn’t work for everyone, when it does work, the results can be dramatic.

Challenges and Side Effects

Immunotherapy isn’t perfect. Some people experience side effects like fatigue, skin reactions, or inflammation in different parts of the body. Since the treatment revs up your immune system, sometimes it can become overactive and attack healthy tissues. It’s crucial to report any new symptoms to your healthcare team promptly.

Also, immunotherapy doesn’t work for everyone. Scientists are still working to understand why some patients respond better than others.

Finding Your Way Forward

• If you’re considering immunotherapy, here are some practical steps:
• Ask about biomarker testing. This can help determine if immunotherapy might be effective for your specific type of lung cancer.
• Connect with support groups. Other patients who have been through immunotherapy can offer invaluable insights and emotional support.
• Keep a symptom diary. This helps your healthcare team adjust your treatment as needed.

Research in immunotherapy for lung cancer is advancing rapidly. Scientists are developing new types of immunotherapy, combining different approaches, and finding ways to make treatments more effective for more patients.

Also Read:- Immunotherapy Cost in India

Note From Medsurge India

Remember, every cancer journey is unique. What works for one person may not work for another, and that’s okay. The important thing is to work closely with your healthcare team to find the best approach for you.

Whether you’re just starting to explore immunotherapy or you’re already undergoing treatment, know that you’re not alone. Medical science has come a long way, and new treatments like immunotherapy are giving hope to many people living with lung cancer. Always consult with your healthcare team about treatment options.