Immunotherapies are gaining ground in the battle against cancer

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi – 12 April 2016: Statistics from the US-based Cancer Research Institute show that every year around 14.1 million people get diagnosed with cancer, of which nearly 8.2 million face mortality. The number of cancer patients is also expected to increase two-fold by 2030.  

Regional statistics are also alarming. According to a report from the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, cancer is the third leading cause of death in the UAE after cardiovascular diseases and accidents. The report states that data from the UAE Ministry of Health indicates that cancer accounts for approximately 500 deaths per year. The centre also reported that Arab women are more likely to suffer from breast cancer a decade earlier than their western counterparts. Some of the common forms of cancer in the region include intestinal carcinoid tumors, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma, among others. Lung cancers and prostate are the most common among men, while breast and thyroid cancers were more common among females.
Awareness, timely diagnosis and the right treatment are crucial in decreasing mortality rates when it comes to cancer, said Dr. Urfan Ul Haq, Consultant in Medical Oncology, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi.

“Traditional cancer treatments such as drugs, radiation and surgery have been mainly used to have deal with cancer. However, immunotherapy has been gaining ground among doctors and patients as it works to activate the body’s own immune system to fight cancer especially in metastatic cancers.  The therapy involves various ways to stimulate the patient’s immune system against cancer as cancer cells already have some mechanisms to escape immune system detection

“Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize and target cancer cells. Clinical trials and research have shown that these treatments have great potential to target cancer more effectively compared to traditional approaches. They also come with fewer side effects, and offer benefits to patients suffering from a range of cancers. Immunotherapy has been an effective treatment for patients with certain types of cancer such as melanomas that have been resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatment,” he added.

Immunotherapy is being used extensively in the treatment of cancers affecting the bladder, lungs, breasts, colorectal area, brain, kidneys, prostate, cervical area and skin. “There are variations in the type of immunotherapies used. As cancer cells have developed some mechanism to escape immune detection, so many of these immune treatments involve use of removal of this protective mechanism and as a result tumor is recognized by immune system. Some of the main types include monoclonal antibodies, which are special proteins created to identify antigens (markers) located on cancer cells. These antibodies find antigens and use immune cells to attack the cancerous cells. Other types such as therapeutic cancer vaccines are also used. Unlike preventive vaccines, these treat a disease that is present, specifically stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells,” said Dr Haq.

Other areas of research including Adoptive T cell transfer that boosts the body’s natural cancer-fighting ability in T cells (a type of white blood cell). The therapy involves removing immune system cells, growing or genetically altering them, and then re-introducing them into a cancer patient. Cytokines, along with checkpoint inhibitors and immune modulators are being researched and investigated in various cancers.

These therapies herald the promise of more effective approaches to prevent and treat cancer. “It brings the focus back on the body’s immune system, which has amazing properties to regenerate, heal and defend. Studies have shown that results of immunotherapy maybe more long-lasting in some cases so called durable response. So immunotherapy is another arsenal in the fight against cancer in addition to other treatment. Using a combination of traditional approach and or immunotherapy is increasingly being used in different types of advanced cancers,” he added.