New methods of cancer treatment: Breakthrough in medicine

1. Targeted therapy: individual approach to cancer cells

Targeted therapy is a revolutionary approach to the treatment of cancer, based on electoral effects on specific molecules that play a key role in growth, progression and spread of malignant tumors. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects both cancer and healthy cells, targeted drugs are aimed at specific targets, such as mutating genes, proteins involved in signal transmission, or receptors on the surface of the cells. This allows you to achieve higher effectiveness and reduce the toxicity of treatment.

1.1. Targeted therapy mechanisms:

Targeted drugs act in various ways, blocking the growth and spread of cancer cells. Some of the most common action mechanisms include:

Tyrosinkinaz inhibitors (ITK): Tyrosinkinase are enzymes involved in the transmission of signals inside cells, which regulate growth, division and differentiation. Mutations in genes encoding tyrosinkinase can lead to their excessive activity, which contributes to the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. ITK block the activity of these enzymes, violating signal transmission and slowing down or stopping the tumor growth. Examples: Imatinib (Glute) for the treatment of chronic myelolecosis (KHML), Gephitinib and Erlotinib for the treatment of non -coclic cancer of the lung (NMRL).
Proteinkinaz inhibitors (IPK): Proteinkinase, like tyrosinkinase, participate in the transmission of signals inside the cells. Proteinkinaz inhibitors block the activity of specific proteinquinase involved in carcinogenesis. Examples: Vemurafenib and Dubrafenib for the treatment of melanoma with the mutation Braf V600E.
Monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies (mat) are artificially created antibodies that are aimed at certain antigens (molecules) on the surface of cancer cells. The mat can act in various ways, for example, blocking growth receptors, signaling the immune system about the destruction of cancer cells or delivering cytotoxic drugs directly to the tumor. Examples: Trustuumab (heceptine) for the treatment of breast cancer with HER2 hyperspression, rituximab (Mabter) for the treatment of non -Kindowing lymphoma (NHL).
Angiogenesis inhibitors: Angiogenesis is the process of the formation of new blood vessels necessary for nutrition and tumor growth. Angiogenesis inhibitors block this process, depriving a tumor of oxygen and nutrients and slowing its growth. Examples: Bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of various types of cancer, including colon cancer, lung cancer and kidney cancer.
PARP inhibitors: PARP (Paul (ADF Ribose)-Polymerase) is an enzyme involved in DNA restoration. PARP inhibitors block the activity of this enzyme, which leads to the accumulation of DNA damage in cancer cells and their death, especially in cells with defects in DNA restoration mechanisms, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Examples: Olaparib, Rhparib and Talazoparib for the treatment of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer with BRCA mutations.

1.2. Diagnosis and selection of patients for targeted therapy:

Before prescribing targeted therapy, it is necessary to carry out molecular genetic tumor testing to determine the presence of specific targets, to which the effect of the drug is directed. Testing methods include:

Immunohistochemistry (IGC): IGC is used to determine the expression of certain proteins in tumor cells.
Fluorescent in situ hybridization (Fish): Fish is used to detect changes in the structure or number of genes.
New generation sequencing (NGS): NGS allows you to determine the sequence of DNA or RNA RNA and identify mutations, deletions, amplification and other genetic changes.

The results of molecular genetic testing allow doctors to choose the most effective targeted drug for a particular patient, which significantly increases the chances of the success of treatment.

1.3. Advantages and disadvantages of targeted therapy:

Advantages:

Higher effectiveness: Targeted drugs are more effective than traditional chemotherapy in the treatment of certain types of cancer.
Less side effects: Targeted drugs, as a rule, cause less side effects than chemotherapy, since they more selectively affect cancer cells.
Personalized approach: Targeted therapy allows you to develop an individual treatment plan for each patient based on the molecular genetic characteristics of his tumor.

Flaws:

Development of resistance: Cancer cells can develop resistance to targeted drugs, which leads to relapse of the disease.
High cost: Targeted drugs are usually more expensive than traditional chemotherapy.
Limited application: Targeted therapy is not available for all types of cancer and not for all patients.

1.4. Examples of successful use of targeted therapy:

Chronic myelolecosis (KhML): Imatinib (Glute), ITK, made a revolution in the treatment of KML, significantly increasing the life expectancy of patients.
Melanoma with a mutation Braf v600e: Vemorafenib and Dabrafenib, IPK, showed high efficiency in the treatment of melanoma with the Braf V600E mutation.
Breast cancer with Her2 hyperexspression: Trustuzumab (heceptin), the mat, significantly improved the results of treatment of breast cancer with HER2 hyperspression.
Nemelcoclet lung cancer (NMRL): Gephitinib and Erlotinib, ITK, showed the effectiveness in the treatment of NMRL with mutations in the EGFR gene.

2. Immunotherapy: activation of the immune system against cancer

Immunotherapy is an innovative approach to cancer, based on the activation of the patient’s own immune system to combat the tumor. Unlike traditional methods of treatment that directly destroy cancer cells, immunotherapy is aimed at increasing the immune response, allowing immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells.

2.1. Immunotherapy mechanisms:

Immunotherapeutic drugs act in various ways to enhance the immune response against cancer. Some of the most common action mechanisms include:

Immune checkpoint incibitors): Control points are molecules on the surface of immune cells, which regulate their activity and prevent excessive immune response. Cancer cells can use control points to suppress the immune response and avoid destruction. Control points inhibitors block the interaction between the control points and their ligands, thereby removing the braking from immune cells and allowing them to attack cancer cells. Examples: Pembroralizumab (Keitrude) and Nivolumab (Opdivo), PD-1 inhibitors; Ipilimumab (Erva), CTLA-4 inhibitor.
Car-T-cell therapy: Car-T-cell therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy) is a method of immunotherapy in which the patient’s T-cells are modified in the laboratory so that they can recognize and attack cancer cells. The patient’s T-cells are taken from the blood and genetically modified for the expression of a chimeral antigenic receptor (CAR), which is aimed at a certain antigen on the surface of cancer cells. Then, modified Car-T cells breed in the laboratory and introduced back to the patient, where they attack and destroy cancer cells. Car-T-cell therapy showed high efficiency in the treatment of certain types of blood cancer, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Examples: Tyssengleusel (Kimria) and Axycabtagen Siloleisel (Escarta).
Therapeutic vaccines: Therapeutic vaccines stimulate the immune response against cancer cells, representing the antigen immune system specific to the tumor. Vaccines may contain weakened or killed cancer cells, proteins or peptides associated with a tumor, or a genetic material encoding these antigens. Therapeutic vaccines are aimed at learning the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, preventing relapse of the disease. Examples: Sipuleusel-T for treating prostate cancer.
Cytokines: Cytokins are proteins that play an important role in the regulation of an immune response. Some cytokines, such as Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Interferon-alpha (IFN-α), can stimulate the immune system and strengthen its ability to fight cancer. However, the use of cytokines can be accompanied by significant side effects.

2.2. Diagnosis and selection of patients for immunotherapy:

Before the appointment of immunotherapy, it is necessary to examine the patient to determine his immune status and identify possible contraindications. Examination methods may include:

PD-L1 expression rating: PD-L1 is a ligand PD-1, a control point of the immune response. PD-L1 expression assessment in tumor cells can help predict the likelihood of response to PD-1 inhibitors.
Analysis of microsalelite instability (MSI): MSI is a genetic state in which numerous mutations accumulate in the DNA of tumor cells. Tumors with a high level of MSI (MSI-H) are more sensitive to immunotherapy.
Assessment of the mutation load of the tumor (TMB): TMB is an indicator of the number of mutations in DNA of tumor cells. Tramb tumors are more likely to cause an immune response and are more sensitive to immunotherapy.

2.3. Advantages and disadvantages of immunotherapy:

Advantages:

Long answer: In some patients, immunotherapy can lead to a long response, lasting years after the end of treatment.
Efficiency in metastatic cancer: Immunotherapy can be effective in the treatment of metastatic cancer, when other treatment methods do not help.
The ability to treat various types of cancer: Immunotherapy is used to treat various types of cancer, including lung cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, bladder cancer and lymphoma.

Flaws:

Side effects: Immunotherapy can cause autoimmune side effects when the immune system attacks the healthy tissues of the body.
Limited answer: Immunotherapy is not effective for all patients.
High cost: Immunotherapeutic drugs are usually expensive.

2.4. Examples of successful use of immunotherapy:

Melanoma: Control points, such as pemblizumab and nivolumab, significantly improved the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
Nemelcoclet lung cancer (NMRL): PD-1 inhibitors, such as pumbrilizumab, have become the standard for the treatment of metastatic NMRL.
Lymphoma: Car-T-cell therapy showed high efficiency in the treatment of recurrent and refractory lymphomas.
Kidney cancer: Control points and angiogenesis inhibitors are used in combination to treat metastatic kidney cancer.

3. Gene therapy: Correction of genetic errors

Gene therapy is a promising approach to cancer treatment, based on a change in the genetic material of the patient’s cells to combat the disease. The purpose of gene therapy is to correct the genetic errors underlying the development of cancer, by adding new genes, inactivation of defective genes or changes in genes expression.

3.1. Mechanisms of the action of genetic therapy:

Gene therapy can be implemented in various ways, depending on the type of cancer and genetic defects that must be corrected. Some of the most common gene therapy methods include:

Introduction of tumor-soup genes: Tumor-spress genes are genes that regulate the growth and division of cells and prevent tumors. Mutations or deletions in the tumor tumor genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer development. The introduction of copies of genes of tumor genes in cancer cells can restore their normal function and stop the growth of the tumor.
Introduction of self-assembly genes: Samobyans genes are genes that encode enzymes that turn non-toxic drugs into toxic, destroying cancer cells. The introduction of self-assembly genes into cancer cells allows you to selectively destroy tumor cells using non-toxic drugs.
Genes editing using CRISPR-CAS9: CRISPR-CAS9 is a genes editing technology that allows you to accurately and effectively change the DNA sequence. CRISPR-CAS9 can be used to inactivation of defective genes, activation of tumors-genes or changes in the expression of genes involved in the development of cancer.
Oncolytic viruses: Oncolytic viruses are viruses that selectively infect and destroy cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. Oncolytic viruses can be genetically modified to increase their effectiveness and safety.

3.2. Genes delivery methods:

In order for the genes to reach cancer cells, it is necessary to use special delivery methods. Some of the most common genes delivery methods include:

Viral vectors: Viral vectors are modified viruses that are used to deliver genes to cells. Viral vectors are effective genes delivery methods, since viruses have a natural ability to infect cells. However, the use of viral vectors may be associated with the risk of developing side effects.
Nevirus vectors: Nevirus vectors are artificial genes delivery systems, such as liposomes, nanoparticles and electroporation. Nevirus vectors, as a rule, are less effective than viral vectors, but they are more safe and less immunogenic.

3.3. Advantages and disadvantages of genetic therapy:

Advantages:

Potential cure: Gene therapy has the potential for curing cancer by correcting genetic defects underlying the development of the disease.
Personalized approach: Gene therapy can be developed for each patient individually, depending on the genetic characteristics of his tumor.
Minimum side effects: Gene therapy can be safer than traditional methods of cancer treatment, since it more selectively affects cancer cells.

Flaws:

Technological difficulties: The development and use of genetic therapy is associated with great technological difficulties.
High cost: General therapy is usually very expensive.
Limited availability: Gene therapy is not available for all types of cancer and not for all patients.
Potential side effects: Gene therapy can cause undesirable side effects, such as an immune response and the introduction of genes into non -target cells.

3.4. Examples of the use of genetic therapy in the treatment of cancer:

Car-T-cell therapy: Car-T-cell therapy, although classified as immunotherapy, uses the principles of gene therapy to modify the patient’s T cells.
Oncolytic viruses: Talimogen Lagerpaoca is an oncolytic virus used to treat melanoma.
Gene therapy for the restoration of tumor-soup genes: Currently, clinical trials of genetic therapy are being carried out to restore tumor-genes, such as P53, in cancer cells.

4. Development of new drugs and treatment methods

In addition to targeted therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy, other new methods of cancer treatment are actively developed, including:

Nanotechnology: Nanotechnologies allow you to create nanoparticles that can be used to deliver drugs directly into cancer cells, increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce side effects.
Photodynamic therapy (FDT): FDT uses photosensitive drugs (photosensitizers) and light of a certain wavelength to destroy cancer cells. Photoshensitizers accumulate in cancer cells and activated by light, forming toxic substances that destroy cells.
Bornitron capture therapy (TBNZ): TBNZ uses burgundy preparations that accumulate in cancer cells, and neutron radiation to destroy cancer cells. Neutrons interact with the atoms of the boron, releasing energy that destroys cells.
Adaptive therapy: Adaptive therapy is an approach to the treatment of cancer, which includes monitoring the tumor reaction to treatment and dose adjustment or type of medicine in accordance with changes in the tumor. The purpose of adaptive therapy is to maximize the effectiveness of treatment and minimize side effects.

5. The role of early diagnosis and prevention

An important role in the fight against cancer is played by early diagnosis and prevention. Timely detection of cancer allows you to start treatment in the early stages, when it is most effective. Preventive measures, such as a healthy lifestyle, rejection of smoking and alcohol, vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV) and regular medical examinations, can reduce the risk of cancer.

6. Prospects for the development of cancer treatment

The future treatment of cancer looks promising. Thanks to the development of new technologies and treatment methods such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, genetic therapy and nanotechnology, more and more patients with cancer are able to live longer and better. Research in the development of new drugs and methods of treatment continues, as well as in the field of early diagnosis and prevention of cancer. The personalized approach to the treatment of cancer, based on the molecular genetic characteristics of the tumor and the patient’s immune status, is becoming increasingly common, which makes it possible to achieve higher treatment results. The development of artificial intelligence and machine learning also opens up new opportunities for analyzing big data and identifying patterns that can help in the development of new methods of treatment and prevention of cancer. The combination of various treatment methods, such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy and traditional chemotherapy, can increase the effectiveness of treatment and overcome drug resistance.

7. Ethics and accessibility of new treatment methods

The development of new cancer treatment methods raises important ethical issues related to the availability, cost and side effects of these methods. It is important to ensure equal access to new treatment methods for all patients, regardless of their socio-economic status. It is also necessary to carefully evaluate the ratio of benefit and risk when using new treatment methods and inform patients about possible side effects.

8. Support for patients and their families

Cancer treatment is a complex and difficult process that requires not only medical intervention, but also psychological, social and spiritual support for patients and their families. It is important to provide patients with access to information about their disease and treatment methods, as well as to support groups and consultations of psychologists. Support for family and friends also plays an important role in the treatment process.

9. International cooperation in the fight against cancer

Cancer is a global problem that requires international cooperation to develop new methods of treatment and prevention, exchange and knowledge, as well as to ensure equal access to medical care for all patients, regardless of their place of residence. International organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Cancer Study Agency (MAIR), play an important role in coordinating international efforts to combat cancer.

10. The role of research in the development of cancer treatment

Fundamental and clinical studies play a key role in the development of cancer treatment. Fundamental studies make it possible to understand the mechanisms of cancer development and identify new targets for therapy. Clinical studies make it possible to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of new drugs and methods of treatment. Support for research in cancer is a prerequisite for progress in the fight against this disease.

11. Modern approaches to the treatment of certain types of cancer

11.1. Breast cancer: Modern approaches to the treatment of breast cancer include surgical treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy. The choice of treatment method depends on the stage of the disease, such as cancer, expression of hormonal receptors and HER2, as well as on the general state of health of the patient. Targeted therapy aimed at HER2 showed high efficiency in the treatment of breast cancer with hyperexspersion of this protein. PARP inhibitors are used to treat breast cancer with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Immunotherapy is also studied as a potential method for treating breast cancer.

11.2. Lung cancer: Modern approaches to the treatment of lung cancer include surgical treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The choice of treatment method depends on the type of lung cancer (non -cell or small -cell), the stage of the disease and the general state of the patient’s health. Targeted therapy aimed at EGFR and ALK showed high efficiency in the treatment of non -alcoholic lung cancer with mutations in these genes. Control points inhibitors, such as pemblizumab and nivolumab, have become the standard of treatment of metastatic non -alcoholic cancer of the lung.

11.3. Tolstoy Cancer: Modern approaches to the treatment of colon cancer include surgical treatment, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The choice of treatment method depends on the stage of the disease, localization of the tumor and the general state of the patient’s health. Targeted therapy aimed at EGFR and VEGF showed the effectiveness in the treatment of metastatic cancer of the colon. Immunotherapy is used to treat the colon cancer with a high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H).

11.4. Prostate cancer: Modern approaches to the treatment of prostate cancer include surgical treatment, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy. The choice of treatment method depends on the stage of the disease, the degree of differentiation of the tumor (glison), the PSA level and the general state of the patient’s health. Hormonal therapy is the main method of treating the metastatic cancer of the prostate gland. PARP inhibitors are used to treat prostate cancer with mutations in genes involved in DNA restoration.

11.5. Melanoma: Modern approaches to the treatment of melanomas include surgical treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The choice of treatment method depends on the stage of the disease, the presence of BRAF mutations and the general state of health of the patient. Targeted therapy aimed at Braf and MEK showed high efficiency in the treatment of melanoma with the Braf V600E mutation. Control points, such as pemblizumab and nivolumab, significantly improved the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

12. Alternative and complementary methods of cancer treatment

It is important to note that there are alternative and complementary methods of cancer treatment, which some patients use in addition to traditional treatment methods. However, the effectiveness and safety of these methods are often not proved by scientific research, and they should not replace traditional treatment. It is important to discuss the use of alternative and complementary treatment methods with your attending physician. Examples of such methods include acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy and diet therapy.

13. Conclusion

Cancer treatment is constantly developing, and new treatment methods give hope to patients for a longer and high -quality life. It is important to keep abreast of the latest achievements in the field of cancer and discuss with your attending physician the best treatment options for each specific case. Early diagnosis, prevention, support of patients and their families, international cooperation and research are key factors in the fight against cancer.