Newly developed therapies
could be used to induce the immune system to fight breast and
ovarian cancer naturally, an Italian study has shown.
Cancer immunotherapy, already proven effective for
melanomas and lung cancer, activates the body's natural defences
and "re-educates" the immune system on how to recognise cancer
and destroy it.
"Immunotherapy seems particularly promising to fight the
most aggressive breast cancers," said Pierfranco Conte from the
Veneto Oncology Institute which conducted the study on 400
patients.
The new drugs use a technique that prevents cancerous cells
from avoiding immune system surveillance and becoming tumours.
They inhibit a key enzyme in repair processes that cancerous
cells use.
One of the most important discoveries is the long-term
effect of the new approach.
"The immune system becomes able to control the tumour in
the long-term. Finally you can start talking of recovery," said
Conte, adding that the new therapies made it more likely that
women could conserve their fertility after recovering from
cancer.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
