For decades, cancer treatment meant battling the disease head-on with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. But a new frontier is changing that narrative. Immunotherapy, a rapidly evolving approach, which doesn’t attack cancer directly; instead, it empowers the body’s immune system to do what it was designed for, detect and destroy threats. For many patients, especially those with cancers that resist traditional therapies, this shift offers new hope: longer survival, fewer side effects, and in some cases, complete remission.
How Immunotherapy Works
Immunotherapy enhances the body’s natural defense mechanisms to fight cancer by making immune cells more effective at identifying and attacking tumor cells. This approach includes checkpoint inhibitors, which block proteins that prevent immune cells from attacking tumors, thereby allowing the immune system to target cancer more aggressively. Another significant advancement is CAR-T cell therapy, where a patient’s T cells are genetically modified in a laboratory to recognize and destroy cancer cells before being reinfused into the patient’s body.
This highly personalized treatment has shown exceptional success in blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. These therapies have shown remarkable efficacy in treating cancers such as melanoma, lung cancer, and certain blood cancers. Research is also exploring the potential of combining immunotherapy with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy, to enhance effectiveness.
Immunotherapy in India
India has witnessed a sharp rise in cancer cases, with estimates suggesting over 1.5 million new cases annually. The most commonly diagnosed cancers include breast, lung, cervical, and gastrointestinal cancers. Studies have shown that immunotherapy significantly improves survival rates and, in some cases, leads to complete remission. However, while immunotherapy offers hope, its accessibility remains a challenge due to high costs and the need for specialized medical infrastructure.
To address these challenges, government initiatives and research collaborations are underway to develop cost-effective immunotherapies. Trials are conducted to assess the effectiveness of lower-cost alternatives. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies are working on biosimilar versions of existing immunotherapy drugs to reduce costs and increase availability.
The Future of Cancer Treatment
With ongoing research and technological advancements, the future of immunotherapy looks promising. Scientists are working on refining these treatments to enhance their effectiveness while minimizing side effects. The integration of artificial intelligence and genetic testing is paving the way for more personalized cancer treatments, ensuring that patients receive therapies tailored to their specific tumor profiles.
For cancer patients and their families, consulting an oncologist to explore immunotherapy as part of a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan can provide valuable insights into emerging options. While financial and infrastructural challenges remain, the growing adoption of immunotherapy represents a significant step toward more effective, targeted, and potentially curative cancer care.
(The Author is Senior Consultant and Head Medical Oncology, Yatharth Hospital, Greater Noida)
