Immunotherapy, the future of cancer treatment

As part of its efforts towards creating awareness about revolutionised cancer treatments, the Indo American Cancer Hospital hosted a session on ‘Advances in Oncology – Immune Modulation, a new frontier in cancer treatment’ in Banjara Hills on Thursday.

Renowned Radiation Oncologist Dr Nori Dattatreyudu member, board of trustees and chief scientific advisor for Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital conducted and explained various type of cancers, drugs and treatment.

Speaking to The Hans India he said, “Immunotherapy has the potential to cure and end all forms of cancer. It is the most rapidly advancing approach to cancer treatment and one of the most promising avenues of research today.

“Immunotherapy seeks to redirect patients' highly individual immune systems to target, detect, and destroy cancer cells. Upto 80 per cent cancers are preventable and 90 per cent can be cured if detected early,” he added.

Earlier, informing the session about ‘Immunotherapy’, Dr Nori said that the procedure comes in different forms, which include intravenous, oral and topical methods of administration.

“The immune system fights off invaders by sending powerful T- cells to destroy the threat. T-cells don’t attack healthy cell because of signals called ‘checkpoints’ which keep them from killing cells that aren’t a threat.

Certain cancers trick this system by sending out a checkpoint signal called PD-1/PD-L1, which deactivates attacking T-cells. New drug called check point inhibitors block the PD-1/PD-L1, switch T-cells back into attack mode,” he elaborated on the details of the procedure.

Later, he urged the government to work on formulating proper policies to eradicate cancer. “Increasing urbanisation, lifestyle changes, high consumption of tobacco, processed food, industrial and environmental pollution are factors that are spurring an alarming rise in the number of cancer patients in India,” he said.