New Advances in Leukemia Treatment: Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapy
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is characterized by the abnormal production of white blood cells that prevent the body from fighting off infections. Advances in treatment options help to improve the overall survival rate for patients with leukemia, and targeted therapies and immunotherapy are emerging as promising options.
Introduction
Leukemia is a life-threatening disease that can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, or gender. The disease originates in the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excess number of abnormal white blood cells, which do not function properly and weaken the immune system. Traditionally, chemotherapy has been the go-to treatment for leukemia, but this approach is accompanied by unwanted side effects. Nevertheless, Targeted therapies and immunotherapy are changing the game, offering patients new and more effective treatments options.
Targeted Therapies
Targeted therapies are a type of treatment used to treat leukemia by targeting the specific proteins or mutations that cause the disease. These therapies work by blocking the signals that the leukemia cells depend on to grow and divide, thereby stopping the disease from advancing. The targeted therapies used in treating leukemia are generally less toxic than chemotherapy and other conventional treatments, resulting in fewer side effects for patients. Examples of targeted therapies used in leukemia treatment include:
1. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs)
TKIs are a class of targeted therapies that block the enzymes that promote the growth and maturation of leukemia cells. TKIs can be effective in treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Imatinib (Gleevec) is a TKI that is commonly used in treating CML.
2. Monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are a type of targeted therapy that works by identifying and attacking specific proteins on the surface of leukemia cells. Some monoclonal antibodies are linked with chemotherapy drugs or radioactive particles that can help to kill the leukemia cells. Examples of monoclonal antibodies used in leukemia treatment include:
– Rituximab (Rituxan)
– Alemtuzumab (Campath)
– Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg)
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses a patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs activate the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy for leukemia is still a developing area but shows promise in treating blood cancer and improving patient outcomes.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy
CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that involves taking the patient’s T-cells and genetically modifying them to recognize and destroy cancer cells. In this therapy, the modified T-cells are then infused into the patient’s bloodstream, where they target the leukemia cells. The FDA approved the CAR-T cell therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This therapy has shown promising results in clinical trials.
Conclusion
Leukemia is a challenging disease, but new advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy are changing the game. Targeted therapies are less toxic than chemotherapy and result in fewer unwanted side effects. Immunotherapy drugs can activate patient’s immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. These new treatments options have shown promising results and give new hope to patients with leukemia.
