Researchers Evolve 'Gamechanger' Immunotherapy For Cancer Treatment

(RTTNews) - Scientists have evolved an effective treatment called immunotherapy that could treat the deadliest of cancers. Researchers expect this to be a game changer in cancer treatment. The therapy uses immune system of the body to destroy cancerous cells.

The new therapy will train immune system to screen cancerous cells. The medical experts expect that in the next five years immunotherapy could replace chemotherapy, the current standard therapy used worldwide for cancer treatment. Certain side effects such as tiredness, sickness, rashes, etc. are likely to occur, though the effects are much less severe than the toxic effects of chemotherapy.

The new immunotherapy can break the protective shields developed by cancer cells, which are usually resistant to chemotherapy. Iplimumab and nivolumab are the compounds used for the treatment.

An immunotherapy trial at Royal Marsden Hospital in the U.K. recorded 60 percent control or shrinkage of tumors in skin cancer patients. The study results presented at the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago showed that treatment is effective against skin cancer and lung cancer. Bowel, ovarian, liver, head and neck, and womb cancers can also be treated effectively using immunotherapy.

Almost fifty percent patients are expected to be disease free in the two year trial involving 950 patients. These patients would have lived only up to nine months, if they had been under the standard treatment.