1. The difference
between tumor immunotherapy and immunity enhancement There are essential differences between
tumor immunotherapy and immune-enhancing therapy. Tumor immunotherapy mainly targets tumor cells and works by correcting the imbalance of the immune system. Specifically, tumor cells will use some mechanisms to escape the attack of the immune system, such as PD-L1 ligand on the surface of tumor cells binding to PD-1 receptor on the surface of immune cells, producing inhibitory signals, so that immune cells can not normally kill tumor cells. Tumor immunotherapy drugs block this combination, relieve immunosuppression, and allow the immune system to re-recognize and attack tumor cells.
Immunity-
enhancing therapy is to enhance the function of immune cells in vivo to fight against various pathogenic microorganisms and harmful stimuli from the outside world. For example, through good living habits, including fresh air, healthy and balanced diet, proper exercise, and keeping away from bad habits, the body’s immunity can be improved. If people with severe pneumonia and extensive burns have strong immunity, they may be able to alleviate the disease in a relatively short period of time. In addition, drugs such as gamma globulin are passive immune-enhancing drugs, which can rapidly increase the level of IgG in the blood of patients, enhance the body’s anti-infection ability and immune regulation ability. For patients after lung cancer surgery, if the immunity is really low, sometimes drugs such as thymalfasin will be used to enhance immunity.
In a word, tumor immunotherapy and immune-enhancing therapy are very different in the object, purpose and method of action, and they can not be confused.
2. How much
do you know about drugs to enhance immunity?
(1) Western medicine preparations
1. Gamma globulin: It mainly comes from healthy human plasma and a small part of placental blood. It has the function of improving human immunity, and is used for various primary and secondary immunodeficiency diseases and severe infections caused by viruses and bacteria. It is a passive immunotherapy. There are two methods of use: intramuscular injection and intravenous infusion. Its mechanism of action is to transfer a large number of antibodies contained in immunoglobulin to the receptor, so that it can quickly reach a high immune state from a low or no immune state, and establish a passive immune mechanism. However, gamma globulin belongs to blood products, which can cause side effects such as viral infection, allergy, and shock in severe cases.
2. Thymosin drugs: As an immunomodulator, there are oral and injectable preparations. It is used to treat diseases caused by immune cell deficiency and immune system deficiency. Its mechanism of action is not yet clear, but it may improve the ability of human body to resist diseases by inducing the differentiation and maturation of human immune cells and enhancing the production of immune cells. Side effects include fever, dizziness, allergies, etc. A small number of people will have symptoms of sleepiness. It is contraindicated in patients who are allergic to this product or who have received organ transplantation, and the adverse reactions of pregnant and lying-in women are unknown, so it is recommended to use with caution.
(2) Traditional Chinese medicine preparations
Yupingfeng Granule is a Chinese patent medicine composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Saposhnikoviae, and Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae. Can improve the immunity, and has the action mechanism that the Astragalus root has the functions of invigorating the spleen, tonifying the middle-jiao, tonifying the defensive and consolidating the exterior, the divaricate Saposhnikovia root has the functions of expelling wind and relieving exterior syndrome, and the largehead Atractylodes rhizome has the functions of invigorating qi and consolidating the exterior, so that the defense mechanism of the organism is enhanced, and the resistance of the organism to exogenous pathogens is improved. However, it is not a routine method for the general population to improve immunity, and professional Chinese medicine practitioners should be consulted before use.
There are many kinds of drugs to
enhance immunity, and their mechanisms of action and side effects are different. When using these drugs, we should strictly follow the doctor’s advice and not use them without authorization in order to avoid adverse consequences.
3. Types and functions
of tumor immunotherapy drugs
(1) Common tumor immunotherapy drugs
There are many types of drugs for
tumor immunotherapy, among which PD-1 monoclonal antibody and PDL-1 monoclonal antibody are widely used in clinical practice.
PD-1
monoclonal antibody: The monoclonal antibody of PD-1 can be applied to lung cancer (including lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), melanoma, lymphoma, genitourinary system tumor, intestinal tumor, etc. For example, the drugs that have been gradually marketed and applied in clinical practice include Pabolizumab (K drug), Odivonavuliumab (O drug), as well as domestic new drugs such as Sindilizumab, Carrilizumab, Teripril, Slulizumab, etc.
PDL-1 monoclonal antibodies: including Atelizumab, Duvalizumab, etc. These drugs play an important role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, liver cancer, melanoma and other diseases.
(II) Mechanism
of Action of Tumor Immunotherapy Drugs
Tumor immunotherapy drugs mainly activate T cells to kill tumor cells by blocking the binding between tumor cell surface ligands and T cell surface receptors. PD-1 receptor may be expressed on the surface of immune cells in vivo, while PDL-1 receptor may be expressed on the surface of most tumor cells. When they combine with each other, they will produce an inhibitory signal to inhibit the normal tumor-killing function of T cells or immune cells, thus causing the formation of tumors in the body. Monoclonal antibodies against PD-1 and PDL-1 can act on the binding of PD-1 and PDL-1 to weaken or inhibit the inhibitory signal. In this case, the function of T cells or immune cells is activated, thereby motivating the application of anti-tumor therapy. For example, ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody against programmed death ligand 1 (PDL-1), which is mainly used in the clinical treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitors for a variety of tumors, and is currently mainly used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, liver cancer, melanoma and other diseases.
4. Correct view of cancer immunotherapy and immunity-enhancing therapy
Although
tumor immunotherapy and immune-enhancing therapy are both related to the immune system, they have obvious differences, and the public should avoid confusing them.
For cancer patients, cancer immunotherapy drugs should not be used blindly as drugs to enhance immunity. When choosing treatment methods, we should fully understand our own condition and physical condition. First, observe the symptoms and medical history to understand the severity, etiology and development of the disease. Then, actively consult the doctor and follow the doctor’s professional advice, including the appropriate treatment, drug dosage and treatment period. At the same time, we should understand the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment methods, consider the impact on our life and work, and choose according to our own characteristics. If there are multiple treatment options to choose from, factors such as treatment effect, side effects and cost can be considered comprehensively. For medication, patients should take medicine accurately and strictly according to the doctor’s requirements, and should not take it lightly or change the way of medication by themselves. In the course of treatment, we should maintain a good mentality and eating habits, adhere to exercise and regular life, which helps to improve the overall immunity of the body. Keep in close contact with the doctor, record the changes of the condition and medication, so as to adjust the treatment plan in time.
It is important to emphasize that not every treatment modality will work for everyone. For some patients, comprehensive Chinese and Western medicine treatment or alternative therapy can be considered when necessary, but this must be carried out under the guidance of professional doctors. For example, in the treatment of tuberculosis, general treatment includes bed rest, supplementary nutrition, etc. At the same time, anti-tuberculosis treatment is the most important way. Common anti-tuberculosis drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin can effectively control the replication of tuberculosis bacilli in the body. For the treatment of tumors, there are mainly surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological immunotherapy and other means, which need to be selected comprehensively according to the type, stage of tumors and the physical condition of patients.
In a word, the public should take a correct view of cancer immunotherapy and immunity-enhancing therapy, and choose appropriate treatment methods according to their own conditions in order to achieve the best therapeutic effect.
