July 14, 2022 23:13
A new study, led by Edith Cowan University in Australia, has found a way to make lung cancer treatments more effective.
Immunotherapy has emerged as a major weapon in the battle against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which makes up 80-85 percent of all lung cancer diagnoses. But immunotherapy can, unfortunately, lead to severe side effects for patients as at least 74 percent of those treated with it suffer from adverse immune-related reactions.
Up to 21 percent of them will develop a Class 3 or 4 toxicity, which can lead to lifelong complications affecting the skin, intestines, liver or endocrine system.
These adverse reactions can stop cancer treatment, which may allow the disease to progress further.
Study leader Professor Elaine Gray at Edith Cowan University described immunotherapy as a “double-edged sword”. But the researchers have made important new advances.
“Immunotherapies unleash the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. But they can also unleash immune cells to attack the body, causing toxicity,” she said.
“Our research shows, for the first time, that certain genetic traits predispose cancer patients to develop side effects or toxicity to anticancer therapy. Knowing this will allow clinicians to improve treatment for patients.”
The key to the research is the human leukocyte antigen (HLA), which are markers found in most cells in the body.
Your immune system uses these antigens to determine which cells belong in your body and which ones don’t, and they are part of the alert system that detects viruses, infections and cancer.
The study team, published in the European Journal of Cancer, examined the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) of 179 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and found a strong link between the HLA genetic makeup and a person’s likelihood of developing side effects from immunotherapy.
Dr. Afaf Abed, who led the study, said the discovery would benefit all non-small cell lung cancer patients, regardless of whether or not they are genetically predisposed to adverse reactions to immunotherapy.
“If it turns out that someone is not at risk of side effects, doctors can ramp up treatment and be more aggressive in fighting the disease,” stressing, “If someone is found to be at greater risk, doctors can give treatment easier, monitor the patient and intervene before he becomes infected.” Class 3 or 4 toxicity.
“In both cases, biomarkers that predict damage and immune responses among patients may reduce the risks associated with immunotherapy,” Dr. Abed explained.
Source: Al Ittihad – Abu Dhabi
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