Cancer Treatment
Almost everyday several cancer cells are formed in our body. This is because thousands of cell divisions take place in the body every day and a few of such divisions resulting in mutated cells result in the birth of cancer cells. But this is immediately tackled by the body's immune system. The immune system is a complex network of cells and organs comprising of lymphocytes, macrophages, Dentritic cells, Natural Killer cells (NK Cell), Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL), lymph nodes etc., that work together to defend the body against attacks by "foreign" or "non-self" invaders including cancer cells. Immediately upon a cancer cell is recognized, the Lymphocytes get activated and engulf the same and/or the NK cells attack the cancer cell to kill it (Fig. 2). When the immune systems efficacy is overwhelmed by the cancer formation abundantly or when the immune system is weaker, then cancer evolves as a disease and starts growing.
Given the variable nature of cancerous cells, each cancer behaves somewhat unique. In general, a multipronged approach to cancer is vital as cancer grows at different rates and respond to different treatments and people with each specific cancer need specific combination of treatment aimed at their particular kind of cancer. When the spread of cancer is very deep, total removal of the cancer growth by surgery may not be possible. At times, after removing a portion of the cancer growth, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy may be necessary to treat the remnant portion of cancer. It has been widely recognized that Chemotherapy of cancer has profound toxic side effects and has limitations in efficacy. Radiotherapy is also a very effective mode of treatment in certain types of cancer, with its own adverse effects as well. These two modalities affect not only the cancer affected cells, but also the normal cells.
In the multipronged approach to treat cancer, the latest scientific advancement has yielded Immune therapy and cancer vaccines as well. Consequently many patients with advanced cancer opt for less toxic therapies like immuno cell therapy and cancer vaccine which are collectively known as Biological therapy.
Immuno Cell therapy is a promising new addition to the family of cancer treatments that includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and cancer vaccines. This mode of treatment uses the body's immune system, either directly or indirectly, to fight cancer by enhancing the immune mechanisms of the body. As this therapy uses only the patients own cells for treatment, it is very safe and doesn't result in any allergy and combining this (Fig. 4) with the conventional therapy(ies) appropriately as per the patients condition, type of cancer and regimen of chemo/radio therapies, improves the outcome. As the immune cells of the patient upon transfusion doesn't affect the normal functioning cells of the body, it is furthermore safe.
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