What are the types of Immunotherapy?
Monoclonal antibodies (mABs)
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory produced antibodies designed to recognise and bind to specific receptors found on the surface of cells. They are derived from natural antibodies, complex proteins derived from a single B cell made by the body’s immunological defence system to recognise and fight foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses.
How they work?
A MAB works by recognising and finding specific proteins on cells. Some work on cancer cells, others target proteins on cells of the immune system.
Each MAB recognises one particular protein. They work in different ways depending on the protein they are targeting. Trigger the immune system
Some MABs trigger the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells.
Although cancer cells are abnormal, they develop from normal cells so they can be difficult for the immune system to spot. Some MABs attach themselves to cancer cells, making it easier for the cells of the immune system to find them. This process is called antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity or ADCC.
Examples of MABS that work in this way include:
- rituximab (Mabthera) a treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and some types of non Hodgkin lymphoma
- cetuximab (Erbitux) a treatment for advanced bowel cancer and head and neck cancer
- trastuzumab (Herceptin) used to treat Breast Cancer and stomach cancer
Help the immune system to attack cancer
Other MABs work by acting on cells of the immune system. For example, immunotherapies called checkpoint inhibitors block proteins that stop the immune system attacking cancer cells.
Checkpoint inhibitors block different proteins, including PD-1 and PD-L1 (programmed death ligand 1). So you might also hear some of these drugs called PD-1 inhibitors or PD-L1 inhibitors. Examples of checkpoint inhibitors include:
- ipilimumab (Yervoy) a treatment for advanced melanoma
- nivolumab (Opdivo)
- pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are used to treat different types of cancer, including Hodgkin Lymphoma and melanoma.
How you have them
You have MAB treatment as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection), or through a drip (infusion) into a vein. For some drugs, you have your first treatment into your vein, then further treatments as an injection under your skin.
How often you have treatment and how many treatments you need will depend on:
which MAB you have, the type of cancer you have
Testing
Before you have some types of MAB you might need to have tests using some of your cancer cells or a blood sample to find out whether the treatment is likely to work. These tests look for changes in certain proteins or genes.
You cancer specialist can tell you if this applies to your treatment. This is not the case for all MABs and you don’t always need this test.
To test your cancer cells, your specialist needs a sample (biopsy) of your cancer. They might be able to test some tissue from a Biopsy or operation you have already had.
Side effects
All treatments have possible side effects. These can vary depending on the type of MAB you have.
Allergic reaction during treatment
A common side effect of some MABs is an allergic reaction to the drug. This reaction is most likely to happen during treatment and when you first have the treatment.
If this is possible with your drug, you might have paracetamol, a steroid and an antihistamine drug before treatment to prevent a reaction.
An allergic reaction can include these symptoms, though you may not have all of them:
- breathlessness
- fever and chills
- an itchy rash
- flushes and faintness
Your nurse will monitor you and treat any symptoms if they happen.
General side effects
Side effects might include:
- skin changes such as red and sore skin or an itchy rash
- diarrhoea
- tiredness
- flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, dizziness
- feeling or being sick
