Cancer physicians rely on new immunotherapy

Cancer Treatment: Doctors rely on new immunotherapy

02/01/2015

Every year, around half a million people in Germany receive the diagnosis of cancer. Among them was a young man who was treated in a clinic in Heidelberg. The therapy used could trigger a medical revolution.

Revolution in tumor therapy
Around 500,000 Germans receive the diagnosis every year: cancer. The consequences are usually surgery, radiation and / or chemotherapy. But now, apparently, in the tumor therapy, a revolution is starting, like „rtl.de“ reported. Researchers are therefore relying on medicines that are supposed to strengthen one's own body as a weapon against cancer. The report is about Georgios Kessesidis, who, although he is a non-smoker, was diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer a year ago. At first, there was little hope, but today he is doing much better. According to the information, his own immune system is strengthened after an unsuccessful chemotherapy with an immunotherapy targeted.

Successes of immunotherapy
Such successes of immunotherapy against cancer have been more frequent in recent years. The 27-year-old Kessesidis receives in the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg as part of a scientific study drugs that help his immune system to recognize cancer cells and fight on their own. In contrast to chemotherapy, specifically only the tumor cells are attacked.

Medications equip the body's defense
The immune system is enabled by so-called antibodies to systematically destroy the cancer similar to bacteria and viruses. The drugs do not fight the tumor directly, like „rtl.de“ writes, but equip the body's defense, which is otherwise blocked by the cancer cells. Thus, such skin cancer immunotherapy has a positive effect on twenty to forty percent of patients. And initial studies to combat bladder cancer, kidney or lung cancer are promising.

Rainforest fruit against cancer
Recently, another new potential treatment for tumors has been reported: A rainforest fruit can kill cancer in minutes. Australian researchers have found this out. According to this, the fruit killed around 75 percent of the tumors in animal experiments. The effect is visible in just a few minutes. However, it is still unclear whether the results can be transferred to humans. Clinical studies on humans should show this. (Ad)

Picture: Andrea Damm