Cancer immunotherapy

Why do we get cancer?

Thousands of cancer cells are born in our bodies every day. The reason these cancer cells do not grow and become cancer is because immune cells eliminate the cancer cells that are born every day. When this immune function stops working for some reason, the cancer cells divide and grow, becoming large clumps and causing the disease known as cancer. "Immunotherapy" is a treatment that aims to shrink cancer or slow its growth by restoring or enhancing the function of the body's natural ability to fight cancer (immunity).

What is Immunity?

The immune system is the body's natural ability to eliminate foreign substances that enter the body.
It is divided into "cellular immunity" and "humoral immunity" depending on the entity that is responsible for elimination. "Cellular immunity" is immunity that works with cells in the blood, while "humoral immunity" is immunity that works with the liquid components in the blood (antibodies). These immunity are used differently depending on the type of foreign substance, with "cellular immunity" responsible for eliminating foreign substances that are generated within the body, such as cancer cells, and "humoral immunity" responsible for eliminating foreign substances that invade from the outside, such as pathogens. Th1 cells (type 1 helper T cells) act as the command center for "cellular immunity," while Th2 cells (type 2 helper T cells) act as the command center for "humoral immunity." Th1 cells and Th2 cells maintain a good balance by suppressing each other's actions.
In addition, once the immune response has been eliminated, it becomes unnecessary, so regulatory T cells also function to bring it to an end.

What is cancer immunotherapy, the “fourth cancer treatment”?

Surgical treatment

(Surgery)

chemical treatment

Radiation therapy

The fourth cancer treatment

Immunotherapy

Currently, there are three types of cancer treatment: surgery, chemotherapy (treatment with anticancer drugs including molecular targeted drugs), and radiation therapy. These are collectively known as the "three major cancer therapies."
In recent years, in addition to these three major therapies, immunotherapy (Immunocare) has been attracting attention as the "fourth cancer treatment." Cancer immunotherapy aims to improve the cancer by enhancing the immune system's ability.
However, cancer cells suppress the "cellular immunity" that attacks them, and by strengthening the activity of Th2 cells and inhibitory T cells, they prevent attacks from the immune system. This is the primary reason why cancer treatment is difficult.

Cancer immunotherapy (Immunocare) enhances cellular immunity and suppresses humoral immunity

In cancer immunotherapy, by combining medicines with immune-activating foods, the function of Th1 cells, which are the command center of "cellular immunity," is enhanced while the activity of Th2 cells is suppressed. This is expected to have therapeutic effects such as preventing cancer from growing or even shrinking it.
In recent years, various mechanisms by which cancer cells evade the immune system have been elucidated and treatments for these have been developed, resulting in significant advances in immunotherapy.

Characteristics of our Cancer Immunotherapy

There are many different types of cancer immunotherapy. At our hospital, we work together with each patient to find and provide an approach that is tailored to their needs.

Treatment with fewer side effects

Immunotherapy involves scientifically cultivating the patient's own immune cells outside the body, and then returning the proliferated immune cells to the patient, which has the advantage of causing fewer side effects and making it less likely for serious side effects to occur. This treatment is also possible for those with low physical strength or the elderly.

Effective against cancers that are difficult to treat with the three major treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy)

Surgery and radiation therapy cannot be used on cancer that has metastasized throughout the body, but immunotherapy is a treatment that is basically applicable to most cancers, with the exception of a few cancers.

It may be effective in cases where the three major treatments are no longer effective. Another feature is that treatment can be received regardless of the location of cancer cells or their stage.

Prevention and treatment of recurrent and metastatic cancer

Immunotherapy can attack small cancer cells that remain in the body after cancer treatment, and is also effective in preventing cancer recurrence. In addition, immunotherapy is effective against metastatic cancer because it has a systemic effect.

Improving therapeutic efficacy by combining with standard treatment

Immunotherapy can be used in combination with standard treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (anticancer drug therapy). By combining the most suitable treatments for each patient, greater effectiveness can be expected.