Before beginning immunotherapy, you should understand the risks associated with the treatment. This includes side effects that may occur immediately after the treatment, days or weeks later, or months or years later. Although most of these side effects are mild and quickly go away on their own, some may persist for a long time or be permanent. If you experience one of these side effects, it is important to seek medical advice immediately. Listed below are some of the side effects associated with immunotherapy.
Radioimmunotherapy
In radioimmunotherapy, an antibody that binds to CD20 is injected into the bloodstream. It then binds with non-malignant B cells in the body, protecting them from radioactive material. The monoclonal antibody takes up to two hours to set up and may be given in an outpatient setting. Patients should allow at least two weeks between treatments because the treatments can have adverse side effects.
After radioimmunotherapy, patients must undergo routine blood tests for several months. Most patients have a mild to moderate decrease in blood cell production. Those who receive chemotherapy or external radiotherapy may experience a greater decrease. The side effects of radioimmunotherapy are generally well tolerated, and the treatment is not life-threatening. Your doctor will discuss this treatment with you and determine if it is right for you. Your doctor may refer you to a clinical trial if the treatment is successful.
Cytokine therapy
Recent advances in cytokine immunotherapy have increased the possibilities of treating a broad range of diseases. The immune system comprises various cytokines that act as signal mediators. Cytokines are highly effective immunotherapies. The Food and Drug Administration approves more than 20 recombinant cytokines for treating multiple sclerosis, hepatitis, and cancer. While these immunotherapies have many advantages, they are also limited by poor circulation, limited tissue specificity, and systemic toxicity.
Scientists from CCR have pioneered cytokine therapies and are actively translating their discoveries to humans. Cytokines are small proteins that carry messages between cells. They play an essential role in the immune response. By collaborating with commercial and academic partners, scientists have successfully translated these proteins for use in immunotherapy. They also work closely with patients to develop new treatments. They also conduct clinical trials to test new cytokine therapies in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy
What does tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy do to your body? This type of treatment uses your immune cells to fight cancer. This is done by isolating your immune cells from a tumor or tissue graft, expanding them outside the body, and reinfusing them into the patient to kill any cancer cells that are left. There are several steps in this type of therapy, including tumor resection.
TIL therapy is an experimental cancer treatment involving transferring a specific type of white blood cells called TILs to the affected area. These T cells are normally present in the body, but tumors suppress them. The immune system uses these cells to fight cancer, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy can effectively treat various cancer types. TIL therapy is not a cure but an effective way to treat a wide range of illnesses.
CAR T cell therapy
Before you undergo CAR T cell therapy, you should understand what it involves. The treatment involves two separate tubes that are inserted into your arms. One tube is used to remove the blood and send it to an apheresis machine, which separates the blood’s components (the T cells) from the other fluid. The rest of your blood flows back into your body through the other arm. The process can take four to five hours.
Although CAR T-cells are designed to remain active in your body, they may cause other side effects, such as low blood pressure or a high fever. One of CAR T therapy’s most common side effects is cytokine release syndrome (CRS). This condition is caused by CAR T-cells multiplying in your body, which releases too many cytokines. While cytokines are necessary for T-cells to work, too many of them can cause flu-like symptoms and may even lead to serious infections. If your doctor suspects you may have CRS, you should take the proper medicine to prevent it from getting worse.
