Biological Therapy
Biological therapy is an umbrella term used to describe treatments, which work with the immune system in various ways. Some agents work to stimulate the immune system and enhance the body’s response to cancer cells. Other agents target abnormal proteins found on the surface of and inside cancer cells. A good example of this is Herceptin, which targets an abnormal protein on the surface of breast cancer cells in some women with breast cancer.
How does Biological Therapy work?
It is not clear how many of these treatments work but they are thought to:
- Stop or slow the growth of cancer cells,
- Make it easier for the immune system to destroy cancer cells,
- Prevent cancer from spreading.
Biological therapies are increasingly used in cancer treatment and the supportive care of patients being treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The next few years will see increasing numbers of these agents being used in cancer treatment.
Examples of Biological Therapy
- BCG – is a type of bacteria which is used to treat bladder cancer.
- Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody treatment for breast cancer.
- Bevacizumab (Avastin) prevents the formation of blood vessels (which will bring nutrients to the cancer) by inhibiting a hormone produced by the cancer that makes blood vessels grow.
Disabling effects of some Biological Therapies
- Herceptin – heart failure.
- Cefixumab and Avastin – may cause severe inflammatory acne, which may prevent someone from going out, it resolves when treatment finishes. May also cause bowel perforation or heart problems.
Most biological therapies are given at the same time as chemotherapy and make the side effects of chemotherapy worse.
