Immunotherapy is a method of treatment that involves mobilizing the cells of the patient's immune system to fight cancer.
An efficient human immune system can recognize cancer cells and should destroy them (just like bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms). However, an efficient immune system also has mechanisms to inhibit its excessive activity. This regulation is necessary so that the immune system does not become overactive, i.e. self-harm. Cancer uses this mechanism to quench the activity of the immune system. Immunotherapy is responsible for unblocking the mechanisms of immune system inhibition. The ability to recognize cancer cells is restored and the body can fight the disease. Immunotherapy is a fairly new approach in cancer treatment, it is still unknown why it is effective only in some patients.
In patients with colorectal cancer, immunotherapy is used when a genetic disorder called microsatellite instability (MSI-H, resulting from a malfunction of the DNA repair system) is diagnosed.
Side effects of immunotherapy treatment
Immunotherapy does not work directly on cancer cells, but on cells of the immune system by activating it. During treatment, the immune system may be over-activated, which may result in autoimmune inflammatory complications. Therefore, it is very important to inform the oncologist about any chronic inflammatory diseases before treatment. Autoimmune diseases may exacerbate their course during immunotherapy. The most common side effects of immunotherapy are in the skin, digestive system, endocrine glands (thyroid, pancreas, pituitary, adrenal glands), liver, and lungs.