Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. It works by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, which can help to slow or stop the growth of cancer. Immunotherapy has become an important treatment option for many types of cancer, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. In this answer, we will discuss the most common types of immunotherapy used for these types of cancer.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, which makes treatment more difficult. Immunotherapy has emerged as an important treatment option for patients with advanced lung cancer, and several immunotherapy drugs have been approved for this indication.
PD-1 Inhibitors
PD-1 inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy drug that blocks the PD-1 protein on the surface of T cells. PD-1 is a checkpoint protein that can prevent T cells from attacking cancer cells. By blocking PD-1, these drugs can allow T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells, which can slow or stop the growth of cancer.
Two PD-1 inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo). These drugs are used in patients with advanced NSCLC who have already received chemotherapy.
In clinical trials, PD-1 inhibitors have been shown to improve survival in patients with advanced NSCLC. For example, a study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced NSCLC who had already received chemotherapy found that the drug improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
CTLA-4 Inhibitors
CTLA-4 inhibitors are another type of immunotherapy drug that can stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. These drugs work by blocking the CTLA-4 protein on the surface of T cells. CTLA-4 is another checkpoint protein that can prevent T cells from attacking cancer cells. By blocking CTLA-4, these drugs can allow T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells.
The CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab (Yervoy) has been approved for the treatment of advanced NSCLC in combination with nivolumab. In clinical trials, this combination has been shown to improve survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
Combination Therapy
Combination therapy with immunotherapy drugs is becoming increasingly common in the treatment of advanced lung cancer. For example, the combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with advanced NSCLC who have not received any prior treatment.
Other combination therapies are also being studied, including the combination of PD-1 inhibitors and CTLA-4 inhibitors. These combinations can have greater efficacy than single-agent therapy, but they can also have more side effects.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is caused by exposure to asbestos and can take 20 to 50 years to develop after exposure. Mesothelioma is difficult to treat, and immunotherapy has only recently been studied as a treatment option.
PD-1 Inhibitors
PD-1 inhibitors have been studied in mesothelioma, and two drugs have been approved for this indication: pembrolizumab and nivolumab. These drugs are used in patients with advanced mesothelioma who have already received chemotherapy.
In clinical trials, PD-1 inhibitors have been shown to improve survival in patients with advanced mesothelioma. For example, a study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced mesothelioma found that the drug improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
Combination Therapy
Combination therapy with immunotherapy drugs is also being studied in mesothelioma. For example, the combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with advanced mesothelioma who have not received any prior treatment.
Other combination therapies are also being studied, including the combination of PD-1 inhibitors and CTLA-4 inhibitors. These combinations can have greater efficacy than single-agent therapy, but they can also have more side effects.
Conclusion
Immunotherapy has become an important treatment option for patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma. PD-1 inhibitors and CTLA-4 inhibitors are the most common types of immunotherapy used for these types of cancer, and combination therapy with these drugs is also being studied. While immunotherapy can have side effects, it can also improve survival in patients with advanced lung cancer and mesothelioma. As research in this field continues, it is likely that new immunotherapy drugs and combination therapies will be developed that will further improve outcomes for these patients.
