Immunotherapy for cervical cancer is an innovative treatment approach that leverages the body’s immune system to identify and combat cancer cells. As cervical cancer remains a significant health concern, particularly due to its potential resistance to conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation, immunotherapy offers new hope for patients. This method not only targets cancer cells more effectively but also minimizes damage to healthy tissues, making it a promising option in the ongoing battle against this disease.
Several types of surgeries for cervical cancer are used, primarily depending on the initial tumor staging.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to halt the growth of cervical cancer cells by either killing them or preventing cell division. This treatment can be given alone or in conjunction with other therapies.
Radiation therapy for cervical cancer consists of two primary types: external beam radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy). Although effective, radiation affects both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to potential side effects such as bladder and bowel dysfunction, along with vaginal narrowing.
Immunotherapy for Cervical Cancer
Some immunotherapy methods for cervical cancer are already approved and widely used in clinical practice.
- Targeted Therapy Drugs: In later disease stages, targeted therapies like Tisotumab-Vedotin, an antibody-drug-conjugate, may be used. These drugs carry their chemotherapeutic substances together with a molecule that is targeted towards an antigen which is present on the cancer cell, reducing side effects of the therapy.
- Immunomodulators: Such as checkpoint inhibitors, which help the immune system to recognize cancer cells again that evaded their detection mechanisms.
- Anti-angiogenic Drugs: These pharmaceuticals, like Bevacizumab, prevent formation of new blood vessels, so oxygen and nutritional supply to the growing demand of the tumor is shrinking.
At Biotherapy International, we use experimental immunotherapies like oncolytic viruses, cancer vaccines, and the ATACK method for cervical cancer treatment.
Oncolytic Viruses for Cervical Cancer
Oncolytic viruses can be used at any stage if the patient’s clinical condition allows. They are safe for humans, targeting only cancer cells and sparing healthy tissues. They penetrate cancer cells, causing programmed cell death. Once the cell dies, viral particles enter the bloodstream and attack other cancer cells. Additionally, these viruses stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight the tumor by making cancer cells more recognizable to the immune system. We administer oncolytic viruses intravenously, directly into the tumor, or in the surrounding tissues. For example, if a patient has ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen), viruses can be injected directly into the ascitic fluid and lymphatic system.
Cancer Vaccines for Cervical Cancer
Cancer vaccines teach the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. They work similarly to how the immune system responds to infections. These vaccines are personalized using tissue samples obtained during surgery. We recommend cryopreserving the tumor sample in our Tumor Bank to ensure the possibility of this treatment.
ATACK Method
The ATACK (using allogeneic targeted activated cancer killers) can be used for cervical cancer. It involves using deliberately incompatible donor cells, including T-cells, NK-cells, and NKT-cells, which primarily target cancer cells. This combination of incompatible killer cells destroys cancer cells through a mechanism similar to organ rejection. The ATACK method is most effective when minimal residual disease is achieved using traditional treatments, meaning only a minimal number of tumor cells remain or the tumor size is significantly reduced.
Cervical Cancer Prognosis
The survival prognosis depends largely on the stage at which the diagnosis is made. A key statistical indicator is the 5-year relative survival rate, which compares the percentage of people with the same type and stage of cervical cancer who are alive five years after diagnosis to the general population. Survival rates decline significantly with recurrences:
- Stage 1-2 (cancer confined to the cervix or nearby tissues): 91%
- Stage 3 (cancer spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes): 60%
- Stage 4 (cancer spread to distant parts like the bladder, liver, or bones): 19%
