Harnessing advances in lung cancer immunotherapy

By: Tracey Evans, MD, Thoracic Medical Oncologist at Main Line Health's Lankenau Medical Center

Unlocking new frontiers in lung cancer prevention, treatment and recovery is always at the forefront of our work in Main Line Health's Lung Cancer Program. As it turns out, the key to unlocking these therapeutic advancements may be found not in a lab or research facility, but in the human body.

Harnessing the power of the immune system

The human immune system is a powerhouse of disease prevention, defense, and natural healing. Because the immune system comprises several organs, cells, and other vital systems in the body, it has the potential to amplify the effectiveness of cancer treatments. It does this by assisting with the identification and elimination of harmful entities - like cancer cells.

These treatment and recovery efforts can be optimized through the use of lung cancer immunotherapies - medicinal therapies that are designed to help the immune system target and destroy cancer cells in the body, including those in areas that can cancer can easily spread to without being detected right away - like the intricate branches of the lung. Immunotherapies improve recovery outcomes because treatments can spread throughout the body, meeting the cancerous cells exactly where they're at.

Lung cancer therapies

Immunotherapies, when expertly designed and implemented, have the ability to:

• Train the immune system to identify, target, and destroy specific cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue
• Strengthen existing immune cells in order to boost their defensive response against malignant tissue
• Enhance the body's overall immune system, leading to an improved natural healing response and more positive recovery outcomes for patients

Immuno-oncology, or cancer immunotherapy, has been successfully implemented in a variety of advanced lung-cancer treatment programs - and with encouraging results. From the development of new preventive measures to innovations in cutting-edge interventional techniques, immunotherapy has already led to significant progress and revolutionary breakthroughs in the treatment of lung cancer.

The expert physicians in our Lung Cancer Program at Main Line Health are passionate about exploring new frontiers in lung cancer prevention, treatment, and recovery. Our multi-disciplinary team of thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation specialists are leading this progress with thoracic oncology research and the implementation of immunotherapy clinical trials.

Main Line Health Cancer Care provides compassionate care through all stages of cancer treatment, from diagnosis through survivorship, for patients throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond. To schedule an appointment with a cancer specialist at Main Line Health, call 1.866.CALL.MLH (484.580.1000) or request an appointment online.

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