Mesothelioma Immunotherapy

Infections and diseases are kept at bay by the in-built immune system in the human body. Bolstering up the immune system to combat cancer cells is a biological therapy called Immunotherapy. Gene therapy, monoclonal antibodies, cytokine proteins such as interferons and interleukins are all a part of Immunotherapy.

Mesothelioma Gene Therapy involves introducing certain modified genes in to the body to perform specific functions. These functions may be any of: blocking abnormal genes in cancer cells, repairing or replacing abnormal genes or hindering genes that promote blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) by cancer cells.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy or Passive Immunotherapy involves developing antibodies in the laboratory. These antibodies are made from a single, cloned antibody–producing cell and are sensitive to the presence of cancer cells. They are introduced in to the human body to help the immune system kill tumors. The antibodies may also be administered with a chemotherapy drug or radioactive particle. For example, bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody, is used along with chemotherapy drugs as a mesothelioma treatment in clinical trials.

Interferons (IFN) and Interleukins (IL) are Cytokines or naturally produced proteins in the body like hormones. Their role is to act as messengers in the immune system, facilitating production of more blood cells in the bone marrow. Interleukin–2 (IL2) is an FDA approved cytokine protein molecule used in treating renal or kidney cancer and melanoma. Using IL2 for pleural mesothelioma is still in the experimental stages. Similarly, FDA approved Interferons used for melanoma, renal or kidney cancer are in clinical trial to gauge their response to mesothelioma.

Immunotherapy is also expected to become standard mesothelioma treatment eventually though it is currently in the experimental stage, particularly for mesothelioma patients.

Most recently, it has been reported by Taiwanese researchers that the adenovirus gene replacement method aids in controlling mesothelioma cell lines. In another study, the gene, keratin 19, was used as a suicide gene therapy in treating mesothelioma to make tumor cells more sensitive to ganciclovir.

The role played by p53 in cancer cells and normal cells is also under study by medical researchers. This gene suppresses tumors and stops them from developing into cancers but if it is damaged, it cannot perform as it should. P53 abnormalities have been detected in lung cancer and mesothelioma patients and the problem is being addressed in medical research. There is hope that more work in this area will yield positive results for mesothelioma patients.