Immunotherapy is a type of treatment for mesothelioma that harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Unlike traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, which directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
In mesothelioma, immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors are commonly used. These drugs work by blocking proteins called checkpoint proteins, which cancer cells use to evade detection by the immune system. By blocking these proteins, immune checkpoint inhibitors help activate the body’s immune response against the cancer, leading to the destruction of cancer cells.
One of the most widely studied immune checkpoint inhibitors for mesothelioma is pembrolizumab, which targets a protein called PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1). Nivolumab is another immune checkpoint inhibitor that targets PD-1 and has shown efficacy in some patients with mesothelioma.
Other types of immunotherapy being explored for mesothelioma include adoptive cell therapy, which involves modifying a patient’s own immune cells in the laboratory to better recognize and attack cancer cells, as well as cancer vaccines, which are designed to stimulate the immune system to target specific proteins expressed by cancer cells.
Immunotherapy has shown promising results in certain patients with mesothelioma, particularly those whose cancer has progressed despite other treatments. It may be used alone or in combination with other therapies such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy, depending on the individual patient’s circumstances.
While immunotherapy offers new hope for mesothelioma patients, it’s important to note that not all patients will respond to this treatment, and side effects can occur. Common side effects of immunotherapy may include fatigue, skin rash, diarrhea, and inflammation of the lungs (pneumonitis).
However, for many patients, the potential benefits of immunotherapy in terms of improved survival and quality of life outweigh the risks.
