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Immunotherapy Experts Share Opinions on the Future of Treatments
What has made cancer immunotherapy such a promising avenue of treatment and where will it be in the next five to 10 years? Jason Luke, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, recently shared his opinions about the current and future state of immunotherapy.
As Dr. Luke explains, immunotherapy is about the difference in the immune system’s response to cancer rather than the difference in the types of tumors. Researchers are focusing on the number of mutations rather than the mutations themselves to determine the quality of the baseline immune response.
New technologies such as gene expression profiling make it easier to measure data. The hope is that eventually this will lead to a broader application of immunotherapy as opposed to a cancer-specific one.
Immunotherapy Gives Hope to Cancer Patients
One such patient was Tish Vigna. Four years ago she was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in her left lung, despite being a physically fit non-smoker. She underwent a course of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery only to discover that the cancer had spread to her right lung.
Tish's oncologist suggested that she enter a clinical trial of immunotherapy for cancer at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. After months of treatment, doctors found that the tumors had shrunk in half and there has been no subsequent growth.
Videos – What Do Patients Say About Their Experience?
Watch videos of patients who share their own experiences at the Issels clinics with you. Listen to their stories and cancer journeys.
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