The benefits of immunotherapy in lung cancer
One of the most prevalent tumors is lung cancer, along with colon cancer and breast cancer. For this reason, it represents a great therapeutic challenge, as well as a constant search for diagnostic strategies with the aim of improving cure rates.
What causes lung cancer?
The main risk factor is undoubtedly smoking, which is the biggest problem in the development of the disease. For this reason, it is essential to continue to look for ways to reduce the incidence of lung cancer, as well as other closely related tumors.
We can see the incidence of tobacco with these data:
- 85% tobacco as the main risk factor.
- 15% other factors, such as pollution, exposure to harmful substances and family history.
How is lung cancer treated?
In the initial stages, surgical treatment should be chosen as the vital basis for achieving a cure. Depending on the stage, complementary treatment with chemotherapy will be applied, which will improve the survival of the disease.
In recent years, drugs have also been developed with a very different approach to the mechanism of action against the tumor than the traditional one. These drugs are capable of acting on the immune response so that it is the patient’s own body that fights the tumor.
Immunotherapy
This treatment has been a great advance in the treatment of lung cancer, as well as other types of cancer. Immunotherapy can modify both the prognosis and the quality of life of patients, which serves to improve survival associated with a change in the side effects of chemotherapy.
We can highlight two drugs in immunotherapy:
- Monoclonal antibodies.
- Targeted anti PD-1 and PD-Lq drugs.
Immunotherapy, both alone and combined with chemotherapy, helps to improve survival and also with a very favorable toxicity profile, especially when compared to chemotherapy. It also improves the quality of life of patients.