Using the body’s own immune system to treat non-small cell lung cancer

This article reviewed current developing trends in the field of immunotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer.

Immunotherapy is a relatively new way of fighting cancer, and employs the body's own defenses to attack tumor cells. This is done by stimulating certain molecules that regulate immune cell activity, and change how these react to cancer cells.

Several new strategies have been successfully used in other cancer types (such as melanoma) and are currently being investigated in the treatment of lung cancer patients.

This article reviewed several emerging therapies:

1. Cancer vaccines. These treatments work by stimulating the immune system to respond to certain proteins found on the surface of cancer cells. One such vaccine (belagenpumatucel-L) is currently being tested in a phase III clinical trial with a planned enrollment of 506 patients. The vaccine has shown promising results in early phase trials. Another vaccine (melanoma associated antigen-A3 – MAGE-A3) was found to significantly reduce cancer recurrence after surgery. The BLP-25 liposome vaccine was also found to improve overall survival when added to standard cancer treatments (chemotherapy and radiation). Other vaccines currently investigated include: TG4010 and the recombinant human epidermal growth factor vaccine (CIMAvax EGF).

2. CTLA-4 blockers. These treatments work by blocking a specific molecular pathway (CTLA-4) that normally inhibits the immune response. Drugs that block CTLA-4 have been shown to increase the immune response directed against cancer cells. Ipilimumab (yervoy), a CTLA-4 blocker, is successfully used in the treatment of melanoma, and is currently being tested in clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer. Results have shown that ipilimumab significantly improves survival when added to standard treatment, and does so without considerable side effects.

3. PD-1 blockers. The PD-1 pathway is also responsible for inhibiting the immune response (much like CTLA-4). Two drugs that block the PD-1 pathway are currently under investigation: BMS-936558 and BMS-936559. BMS-936558 was found to stimulate the immune response against lung tumors, even in patients unresponsive to other treatments, with few considerable side effects. BMS-936559 has shown similar results in early phase trials. These findings support further large scale studies to investigate the use of these drugs.

Many new therapies that harness the body's own immune system are currently under development, and have shown promising results in early phase trials.

Although small trials have shown encouraging results, more extensive testing is required before these drugs are approved for common practice.

Consult with your physician regarding immunotherapy in the treatment of non small-cell lung cancer. Although these therapies are not currently approved for the treatment of lung cancer patients, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial investigating one of these new treatments.