Targeted immunotherapy in gynecological cancer

Verified by Dr. Tejinder Singh, Sr. Consultant Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai.

Targeted immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other therapies to boost the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. It is a newer approach to cancer treatment that has shown promise in recent years, particularly for gynecological cancers.

What are gynecological cancers?

Gynecological cancers are cancers that develop in the female reproductive organs, such as the ovaries, uterus, cervix, and vagina. They are the most common type of cancer in women, accounting for nearly 20% of all cancer diagnoses in women each year.

How does immunotherapy work in gynecological cancers?

Immunotherapy works by helping the body’s immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. Targeted immunotherapy is a type of immunotherapy that uses drugs or other therapies to specifically target cancer cells. This can make immunotherapy more effective and less likely to cause side effects.

There are a number of different targeted immunotherapies that are being used to treat gynecological cancers. Some of the most common include:

• Checkpoint inhibitors: Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block certain proteins on cancer cells or immune cells. These proteins can prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors have been shown to be effective in treating a variety of gynecological cancers, including ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and cervical cancer.
• CAR T-cell therapy: CAR T-cell therapy is a type of cellular therapy that involves engineering the patient’s own T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy has been shown to be effective in treating some types of leukemia and lymphoma, and it is currently being investigated for the treatment of gynecological cancers.
• Oncolytic viruses: Oncolytic viruses are viruses that can infect and kill cancer cells. Oncolytic viruses are currently being investigated for the treatment of a variety of cancers, including gynecological cancers.

Targeted immunotherapy is still a relatively new approach to cancer treatment, but it has shown promise in recent years. Targeted immunotherapy is a more specific and less toxic approach to immunotherapy, and it is likely to play an increasingly important role in the treatment of gynecological cancers in the future.

These are just a few examples of the many targeted immunotherapy trials that are currently underway for gynecological cancers. As research continues, it is likely that even more targeted immunotherapy options will become available for women with gynecological cancers.

Targeted immunotherapy is a promising new approach to cancer treatment that has the potential to improve outcomes for women with gynecological cancers. If you have been diagnosed with gynecological cancer, talk to our doctors to know whether targeted immunotherapy may be an option for you.

Consult our expert, Dr. Tejinder Singh, Sr. Consultant Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai.

Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment.