Why immunotherapy could be the cure to cancer we have all been waiting for

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https://www.popsci.com/immunotherapy-cure-cancer/

Why immunotherapy could be the cure to cancer we have all been waiting for​

Cancer research leader Carl June on how targeting immune cells could provide potentially lifelong protection
BY CLAIRE MALDARELLI OCTOBER 15, 2016

• HEALTH

 

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Cancer cells spread due to their insidious ability to bypass the body’s immune system. To fight them, oncologists have historically turned to toxic drugs that kill a cancer’s dividing cells. But over the past decade, researchers have been figuring out how to trick the immune system into attacking tumors. In late 2015, the FDA approved Amgen’s IMLYGIC, a genetically engineered virus that might trigger the immune system to kill cancer. For now, the drug is only for melanoma, but it’s a harbinger of a major shift in the fight against cancer. University of Pennsylvania’s Carl June, a leader in immunotherapy research, explains how IMLYGIC, and other drugs like it, could change how cancer is treated.

 

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Popular Science: How does immunotherapy differ from chemo and radiation?

Carl June: A reprogrammed immune system could have a lifelong antitumor effect. That sets it apart from short-term therapies, where you get the effect only until the drugs metabolize. Plus, the lessons we learn from the immunotherapy for one cancer will apply to other cancers.

 

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PS: The treatment you developed, CAR (chimeric antigen receptors) T cell therapy, uses engineered T cells (immune cells) to kill tumors. It kills some cancers, but not all. Why?

CJ: Often, the tumor cell mutates, so the modified T cells can’t find it anymore. We are now in trials where we give patients a cocktail of cells. Then mathematically, it’s about impossible for the tumor to mutate in so many ways that the engineered T cells can’t keep up. Our end goal is to pin a tumor into a corner, where it can’t escape.

 

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PS: Both CAR T and IMLYGIC use viruses to ignite an immune response. Are there side effects?

CJ: Yes, but we are balancing a sword. In CAR T, patients who get high fevers [from the treatment] are the ones who end up doing best. The fever is your immune response to the virus, which is needed. The patients who never get a fever are the ones who don’t do well.

PS: The big question: Could this lead to a cure for cancer?

CJ: In an ideal world, we will have vaccines. For now, there’s data showing that if we give immunotherapy early, a single treatment could bulk-reduce or eliminate the tumor. And then hopefully it’s one and done.

 

[kaninabuchaojibye]

questions:
1. how long does one want to live? above 80 already walking difficulties, no quality of life and fast deteriorating. still wanna carry the breaking down body along?
2. all these immunotherapy will shoot insurance premiums up like crazy. don't u think so?

 

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questions:
1. how long does one want to live? above 80 already walking difficulties, no quality of life and fast deteriorating. still wanna carry the breaking down body along?
2. all these immunotherapy will shoot insurance premiums up like crazy. don't u think so?

1. Cancer can strike at any age way before 80. If you get cancer in 30s/40s/50s, chances are you won’t live to even 60 with recurrence. Especially deadly cancer like lung cancer.

Does anyone survive lung cancer?
The 5-year survival rate for all people with all types of lung cancer is 21%. The 5-year survival rate for men is 17%. The 5-year survival rate for women is 24%. The 5-year survival rate for NSCLC is 25%, compared to 7% for small cell lung cancer.

2. I don’t think Spore shield plans will approve this kind of treatment. Not like USA angmoh the best insurance sure can claim. My Spore shield plan can’t even claim for the sleep apnea cpac machine, which is like the defacto treatment for sleep apnea.

 

[syed putra]

 

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Good video will watch when I got WiFi

 

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2. I don’t think Spore shield plans will approve this kind of treatment. Not like USA angmoh the best insurance sure can claim. My Spore shield plan can’t even claim for the sleep apnea cpac machine, which is like the defacto treatment for sleep apnea.

Oh I just read another thread here on spore lung cancer patient looks like his immunotherapy can claim. Not bad.

 

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Wow can cure all kinds of cancer. Angmoh the best

 

[ginfreely]

1. Cancer can strike at any age way before 80. If you get cancer in 30s/40s/50s, chances are you won’t live to even 60 with recurrence. Especially deadly cancer like lung cancer.

Does anyone survive lung cancer?
The 5-year survival rate for all people with all types of lung cancer is 21%. The 5-year survival rate for men is 17%. The 5-year survival rate for women is 24%. The 5-year survival rate for NSCLC is 25%, compared to 7% for small cell lung cancer.

2. I don’t think Spore shield plans will approve this kind of treatment. Not like USA angmoh the best insurance sure can claim. My Spore shield plan can’t even claim for the sleep apnea cpac machine, which is like the defacto treatment for sleep apnea.

Seriously cancer is the number 1 disease that break up families by taking away loved ones prematurely. Don’t put resources to treat cancer then put resources to treat what?

 

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Seriously cancer is the number 1 disease that break up families by taking away loved ones prematurely. Don’t put resources to treat cancer then put resources to treat what?

Insurance premiums don’t pay for cancer treatment then pay for what?

 

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Seriously cancer is the number 1 disease that break up families by taking away loved ones prematurely. Don’t put resources to treat cancer then put resources to treat what?

Cancer caused deaths in middle age not old age ok?