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New Hope for Mesothelioma: Understanding Immunotherapy

ByHolly Zink
New Hope for Mesothelioma: Understanding Immunotherapy

Facing health challenges can be tough, especially when dealing with pleural mesothelioma. A new study shows progress in mesothelioma treatment. The breakthrough comes with a treatment called immunotherapy.

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and tough disease. In the past, doctors used drugs to treat it, but the average survival time is only about 12 months. Now, there’s a new way of treating it that gives us a renewed sense of hope.

The Power of Immunotherapy

Our bodies have a natural defense system called the immune system. It helps fight off bad cells, like cancer. But sometimes, certain cancers, such as pleural mesothelioma, can trick the immune system. This is where immunotherapy comes in.

Scientists have developed special medicines called immune checkpoint inhibitors, like pembrolizumab and nivolumab. These medicines help the immune system fight back against cancer cells more effectively. Recent studies have shown that these medicines are promising and can make a big difference in treating mesothelioma.

Researchers are also looking at other ways to help the immune system fight mesothelioma. They are studying adoptive cell transfer therapies, therapeutic vaccines, and cytokine-based treatments. These treatments either make the body’s defenses stronger or target and destroy cancer cells. Scientists are also testing if combining different treatments, like chemotherapy, can make them even more effective.

A Glimpse of Hope

Immunotherapy is changing how we approach mesothelioma. By using the body’s own defense system, these treatments offer hope for better results and more time for those fighting this tough disease. Ongoing research and new discoveries are giving us a chance to transform how we treat pleural mesothelioma.

As we move ahead, these new treatments offer alternatives that are not only better but also less invasive. The journey might still be challenging, but with progress in immunotherapy, there’s a hopeful future for those dealing with pleural mesothelioma.

Source:

CALABRO, LUANA, Giuseppe Bronte, Federica Grosso, Luigi CERBONE, Angelo Delmonte, Fabio Nicolini, Massimiliano Mazza, Anna Maria Di Giacomo, Alessia Covre, and Maria Fortunata Lofiego. “Immunotherapy of Mesothelioma: The Evolving Change of a Long-Standing Therapeutic Dream.” Frontiers in Immunology 14 (2023): 1333661. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1333661/abstract

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