with dendritic cells for treatment for cancer is practiced in
many countries including UK and USA. The response rate of the therapy is very
encouraging Normally Dendritic Cell
Therapy (DCT) can be received after conventional therapy for cancer, that is radiation,
or surgery. People are advised to complete the
conventional treatment available for cancer, and then have DCT administered, to
prevent relapse and reduce the progression of cancer cells. According to the experts, the current DC therapy
approach is far from optimal. Many patients treated with DC vaccines have failed to respond and
only about 15 percent of the patients respond positively. Dendritic Cell
therapy can be considered when every other therapy option is exhausted, or if
the disease is stable and the patient is not on any chemo or radiation
therapies concurrently, or if the patient is at risk for recurrence of cancer
and is seeking to potentially reduce the risk
Immunotherapy with dendritic cells is applicable
in cancers of kidney, prostate, ovarian, colon, breast and some skin cancers.
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LDG India in
collaboration with the renowned Germany based laboratory “Dr.
Gansuage” has initiated this medical facility in India.
INTERVIEW WITH DR.HARI
GOYAL
The following is an
exclusive interview with Dr. Hari Goyal conducted by Medindia to know about his
views on the treatment of immunotherapy with dendritic cells for cancer.
1. Please explain in
simple words what is immunotherapy for cancer?
Ans: Chemotherapy
is the standard treatment given to every cancer patient wherein chemotherapy
kills healthy cells along with the cancer cells. Whereas, Immunotherapy is
target directed treatment and kills cancer cells with no adverse effect on
healthy tissue. Immunotherapy boosts the body’s natural defense mechanism and
helps patient lead a relatively healthy life during the treatment as well.
2. How is
dendritic cell immunotherapy better for cancer?
Ans: Treatment
with the dendritic cell is a gentle treatment. Compared to other forms of
treatment, side effects only occur very rarely after vaccination with dendritic
cells. Observed side effects are just slight fever and weakness.
3. For which
cancers is dendritic cell immunotherapy used?
Ans: Almost
every type of cancer can be treated by this method. Still, no randomized trials
or data is available. I select patients who have progressed on present standard
treatment.
4. What is
the cost of such treatment?
Ans: Presently
the cost is high, but once we absorb the complete technology in the lab named
LDG India based in Gurgaon, it is very likely to go down.
5.Can you
tell our members on how to prevent cancers?
Ans: The only
mantra to lead a cancer-free life is to have a healthy lifestyle and to have
good diet habits.
6. Tell us
about yourself and what motivated you to become an oncologist?
Ans: When I was
doing my internship, I realized that cancer causes so much physical, mental and
financial pain with little or no gain. This inspired me to work for cancer
patients with more passion and help patients in some or other way. With
technology getting advanced every moment. There is still a lot which can be
done for it.
About Dendritic Cell therapy
Dendritic cells are found in
the bloodstream and are a unique set of antigen-producing cells that are
usually present in very small numbers whose main function is to identify
foreign substances, including cancer cells and rectify them. Since dendritic
cells are considered as the most potent antigen-producing cells, they have been
used in cancer immuno-therapy to induce specific anti-tumor immunity to attack
the tumor cells. The first attempt to use dendritic cells as cancer vaccines in
humans was made by Edgar Engleman and Ronald Levy at the Stanford University.
- The Stanford University experts
through treatments for various types cancers have confirmed the efficacy
of the Dendritic Cell (DC) therapy - The studies conducted by the
Stanford experts reveal that DC therapy is a generally safe and promising
form of immuno-therapy which can be applied to a wide range of
malignancies - DC therapy is documented as most
effective against B cell lymphoma, myeloma, melanoma, prostate cancer,
colon cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and renal cell cancer amongst
other types of cancer
A Note of Caution
If the patient opts for Dendritic Cell Therapy (DCT) he should consult with a reputable and knowledgeable physician and seek
professional advice on the cancer and DC therapy, thereby carefully weigh
treatment options. Also, the treatment in itself is very expensive and the
people are advised to stay away from fraudsters who may take advantage of the
vulnerability of the patients by giving false hope.
References:
- What’s new in cancer immunotherapy research? – (https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/whats-new-in-immunotherapy-research.html)
- Dendritic Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Trials: Are We Making Progress? – (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3861778/)
Source: Medindia
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