intensifying of biological defense mechanisms natural to the body
itself. Normal cells produce substances that can block tumor growth,
or stimulate the immune system and other natural defenses to attack
the cancer. The agents that focus or strengthen natural defenses are
called biological response modifiers or BRMs.
Intuitively, most of us have known that the human body had it's own
mechanisms for fighting cancer and other diseases. BRMs however, are a
medically high tech way of encouraging our natural body defenses to
charge into action. These biological agents are often used side by
side with other cancer treatments, including radiation, surgery, and
chemotherapy.
BRMs can prevent cancer from spreading, reverse the process whereby
normal cells change to cancer cells, stop cancer cell growth, boost
the immune system's attack on cancer, and make cancer more susceptible
to being killed by the body's immune system. Her are some of the major
BRMs under research.
1. Interleukins are cytokines which are found naturally in the human
body. Interleukins stimulate the growth of immune cells which destroy
cancer cells. Research is under way using interleukins to treat a
variety of cancers.
2. Interferon, which is also a type of cytokine, can be isolated and
given in cancer treatment to boost the immune system. Interferon can
slows cancer growth or alter cancer cells so that they grow more like
normal cells. Researchers are exploring the use of interferon in the
treatment of many cancers
3. Colony stimulating factors act differently. Colony stimulating
factors affect the bone marrow, by stimulating the production of white
blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells. During chemotherapy, bone
marrow can become suppressed, causing anemia and fatigue. The use of
colony stimulating factors allows higher doses of chemotherapy than
might be tolerated without it.
4. Monoclonal antibodies(MOABs) are produced in a laboratory and are
specific for a particular antigen. Research is now focusing on
creating monoclonal antibodies that target cancer types. Some MOABs
have the ability to stop cancer cell growth factors, and some can
attach to cancer cells and deliver poisons that kill the cancer cells.
5. Gene therapy inserts genetic material into cells. The genetic
material may be designed to be inserted into immune cells in order to
increase their cancer fighting abilities. It may also be placed into
cancer cells, causing them to produce cytokines which stimulate the
immune defense against the cancer itself.
6. Cancer vaccines expose the body to weak of killed versions of the
organism that causes the disease, and stimulate an immune response to
protect from future disease. Another approach using vaccines, is to
give a vaccine during the time of the disease. This is called
therapeutic vaccination. These vaccines are under research in
combination with other BRMs.
Just because these therapies are biological does not mean that they
are without side effects. Side effects for these agents can vary from
allergic reactions to nausea, and vomiting. Each of the BRMs have it's
own associated possible side effects. The research is quite promising,
however, and has been progressively adding to the arsenal of weapons
for fighting mesothelioma, and other cancers.
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