Successes of immunotherapy against cancer

Immunotherapy opens up new possibilities for cancer treatment

01/26/2015

Immunotherapy offers great opportunities in the fight against cancer, but not all types of cancer are equally suitable for this particular treatment approach and sometimes the activation of the immune system can also pose risks, experts from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg reported at a press workshop last week.

One of the cancer patients who have already benefited from the new opportunities of immunotherapy is Georgios Kessesidis, whose case the news agency „dpa“ describes. Initially, Kessesidis suffered from nonspecific symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes and increased nocturnal sweating. His physical performance had also decreased. The repeated visits to the doctor would have always bronchitis or asthma as a diagnosis, not least because the now 27-year-old suffered from hay fever, so the announcement of the „dpa“. After months then it turned out that lung cancer was the cause of the discomfort. „I expected everything from illnesses, but certainly not something like that“, the news agency quotes the young man. The cancer was already in a very advanced stage of the disease and was initially rated by the experts as neither curable nor reasonably operable. That Kessesidis still lives today and claims to be „really good“ feels he owes immunotherapy.

First clinical successes of immunotherapy
From the renowned journal „Science“ was immunotherapy for cancer as „Breakthrough of the year“ Celebrated in 2013 and now holds the new therapeutic approach „actually moving into the clinic and helping more and more cancer patients“, so the message of the DKFZ. Among other things, the CEO of the German Cancer Research Center, Professor. Dr. Dr. h.c. Otmar D. Wiestler, at the press workshop last week on the promising concept of immunotherapy against cancer and Professor. Dirk Jäger, Director of Medical Oncology at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and Head of the Department of Tumor Immunology at the DKFZ, explained on the basis of practical examples how cancer patients survive longer thanks to immunotherapy.

Activation of certain immune cells against lung cancer
The original chemotherapy showed, according to the announcement of the „dpa“ For the 27-year-old, no treatment success was successful and so Kessesidis decided to participate in an international study using immunotherapy against cancer. Since June 2014, the patient has been treated on the basis of the new approach. This therapy or this drug have it „certain immune cells activate, immune cells that are able to recognize and kill tumor cells“, quotes the „dpa“ the doctor of the young cancer patient, Professor Dirk Jäger. So far, however, too little time has passed to already speak of a cure. In addition, the treatment does not work in all lung cancer patients.

Age dream of cancer therapy
Generally, some types of tumors are better recognized by the immune system than others. So there is loud message of the „dpa“ so far against many cancers no sufficiently effective options of immunotherapy. For example, these show far less good results in colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer, according to the news agency, citing Prof. Jäger. Worldwide, however, research is running at full speed. Numerous studies were carried out and many companies are involved in the development of appropriate drugs. „There is a real gold rush mood, also in the pharmaceutical industry and in biotechnology“, is DKFZ boss Otmar Wiestler of the „dpa „ cited. It is the „Immunotherapy an old dream of cancer medicine.“ Because cancer cells finally form „foreign cells in the body - and one would have to believe that our immune system recognizes them“, so Wiestler. Here, however, the immune system fails, which has long been unexplained.

Patients respond differently to immunotherapy
„Today we know that tumors can hide from the immune system and are then simply no longer recognized as foreign“, becomes Prof. Wiestler of the „dpa“ further cited. In addition, build „A protective barrier that prevents cells of the immune system from recognizing the cancerous cells and invading the cancerous tissue.“ On the basis of these findings, completely new strategies have been developed in recent years, with which a reactivation of the immune system against the cancer cells is possible. In ongoing clinical trials, some patients, such as the 27-year-old Kessesidis, respond surprisingly well to the new drugs, according to the expert. Other patients show almost no reaction to immunotherapy „and we do not really understand why that is right now“, reports the DKFZ boss in the contribution of „dpa“. In addition, the question also arises in the case of seemingly successful course of treatment, „whether these reactions last long term and then whether one can really speak of a cure.“ This could „none of us currently forecast“, so Wiestler.

Treatment success is no big exception
However, according to Professor Jäger, the case of Georgios Kesseidis is by no means the big exception. „We have a whole bunch of patients where we see such events. Not all, but quite a few“, quotes the „dpa“ the doctor. At present, Kessesidis receives an infusion every two weeks in Heidelberg, whereby the ongoing study is not only investigating treatment success, but also possible side effects. The „dpa“ here reports mild diarrhea at the beginning of immunotherapy and a temporary worsening of the psoriasis of the patient. According to Jäger, a very similar substance, such as the drug of the 27-year-old cancer patient, has just been approved in the USA, and experts are predicting approval in Germany in about a year, according to the news agency. Expected treatment costs would be estimated by the experts at € 15,000 to € 20,000. (Fp)