The Latest Cancer Res Arch Updates: A Look at Current Cure Research
In the ongoing battle against cancer, researchers are continually exploring new and innovative methods to combat this devastating disease. This article will delve into three key areas of cancer treatment: nanoparticles, gene therapy, and immunotherapy.
Currently, there is no definitive cure for cancer, and it's possible for the disease to return even after complete remission. However, advancements in treatments are providing hope for patients and their families.
One such area is the use of nanoparticles. These tiny structures, no larger than a few hundred nanometres, have the ability to affect the immune system and are used to more effectively deliver cancer drugs. Examples of nanoparticle-based cancer drugs include paclitaxel (Abraxane) and doxorubicin (Doxil).
Another approach is monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy. This involves creating large amounts of antibodies that recognize antigens usually found on the surface of cancer cells and injecting them into the body to help find and neutralize cancer cells. Some approved mAbs for cancer therapy include Alemtuzumab (Campath), Trastuzumab (Herceptin), and Blinatumomab (Blincyto).
Monoclonal antibodies can also be attached to radioactive particles or chemotherapy drugs, creating conjugated mAbs, which allow these cancer-fighting substances to be delivered directly to cancer cells. Examples of conjugated mAbs include Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) and Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla).
In addition to these treatments, gene therapy is another method for treating diseases by editing or altering genes within cells. The goal of cancer gene therapy is to treat disease by replacing or modifying damaged genetic information with healthy code.
One example of gene therapy for cancer is CAR T-cell therapy. This involves extracting T-cells, modifying them to add a receptor to their surface, and reintroducing them into the body to help recognize and destroy cancer cells. As of this writing, six CAR T-cell therapies have been approved by the FDA, including Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah), Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta), and Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus).
Another promising area of research is the use of gene editing (CRISPR) and nanoparticles. Initial studies and trials have shown promising results, with changes introduced by CRISPR being stable for at least 9 months in 3 people with advanced, refractory cancer. Clinical studies on the application of CRISPR gene editing in cancer treatment are currently being conducted, with ongoing trials in Germany at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) using CRISPR-edited CAR-T cells.
Finally, immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that boosts the immune system's response to cancer by helping T-cells avoid checkpoints that would otherwise prevent them from attacking cells. This approach has shown significant success in treating certain types of cancer, including melanoma and lung cancer.
In the future, nanotechnology could be used to detect cancer early and improve outcomes. Additionally, other key research areas include oncolytic viruses and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Hormone therapy, which uses medication to lower or block the production of specific hormones, is also used to treat certain types of cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer.
For those interested in learning more about ongoing clinical trials using nanoparticles for cancer treatment, a list can be found on the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Clinical Trials website. The fight against cancer is far from over, but with continued research and advancements in treatments, there is hope for a future where cancer is no longer a death sentence.
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