Immunotherapy Showing Promise In Cancer Treatment
A new medical treatment being investigated by scientists, immunotherapy, is showing promise for patients with various forms of cancer.
Immunotherapy was originally developed to fight lymphoma, but has been proven to help fight other deadly cancers such as melanoma, colorectal cancer and kidney cancer. It works by using the patient’s own immune system to fight off disease.
“There is a whole area of science now that is looking into developing vaccines by taking an individual’s own cancer cells and then developing a vaccine that fights against that,” stated Dr. Robin Zon of Michiana Hematology Oncology.
Immunotherapy, often used in combination with chemotherapy, is the first treatment to show significant results against melanoma. Previously the only option had been chemotherapy alone, which many times didn’t work.
While research remains ongoing, doctors hope immunotherapy can one day become the primary treatment plan for certain cancers. Funding is needed from the National Cancer Institute to continue studies.
Source: ABC 57