Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to treat, and medical science has been evolving to develop more effective treatments. One such advancement is immunotherapy, a form of cancer treatment that harnesses the power of the immune system to fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy has shown promising results, particularly for patients whose cancers have resisted traditional therapies like chemotherapy or radiation. For those seeking immunotherapy for cancer in Delhi, options have grown considerably, with experienced oncologists like Dr Gopal Sharma, one of the best cancer specialists in Delhi NCR, offering cutting-edge care.
What Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. The immune system is the body’s natural defence mechanism, constantly patrolling for invaders like bacteria, viruses, and even abnormal cells like cancer. However, cancer cells are adept at evading the immune system. Immunotherapy works by enhancing the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy these malignant cells.
There are several types of immunotherapies:
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: These drugs block the checkpoints—proteins used by cancer cells to avoid being attacked. When these checkpoints are blocked, the immune cells (T-cells) can attack cancer cells more effectively.
- CAR T-cell Therapy: This involves modifying a patient’s T-cells in the lab so that they can better target cancer cells. Once reintroduced into the body, these modified cells can seek out and destroy cancerous cells.
- Monoclonal Antibodies: These are laboratory-made proteins that can bind to specific targets on cancer cells. Some monoclonal antibodies mark cancer cells so that the immune system can find and destroy them, while others might deliver toxic substances directly to the cancer.
- Cancer Vaccines: These work by stimulating the immune system to fight off the cancer itself, though they’re still largely in experimental stages for many types of cancers.
How Do Immunotherapy Drugs Work?
Immunotherapy drugs work by modifying different aspects of the immune response. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation, which directly target the tumour, immunotherapy stimulates the body’s defence mechanisms to seek out and destroy cancer. Each drug type has its method of action, depending on the type of immunotherapy being used.
For example, immune checkpoint inhibitors like Pembrolizumab or Nivolumab block proteins (such as PD-1 or PD-L1) that normally act as a brake on the immune system. By blocking these proteins, the immune system is “unleashed” and can recognize and kill cancer cells.
CAR T-cell therapy, on the other hand, requires extracting a patient’s T-cells, re-engineering them in the lab to attack cancer cells, and then reinfusing them into the patient’s body. This kind of therapy has shown remarkable success in treating certain types of blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma.
Immunotherapy in Delhi
Delhi is emerging as a hub for advanced cancer treatments like immunotherapy. Dr. Gopal Sharma, renowned as one of the best cancer specialists in Delhi NCR, has been at the forefront of this treatment, offering personalized cancer care and state-of-the-art immunotherapy. Patients seeking immunotherapy for cancer in Delhi can now access some of the most advanced treatments available, improving their chances of recovery and extending their lives.
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Conclusion
In Conclusion, immunotherapy is revolutionizing cancer care by leveraging the body’s defence mechanisms to fight malignancies. With experts like Dr Gopal Sharma, patients in Delhi NCR have access to the latest therapies, offering hope where traditional treatments may have failed.