San Antonio, Texas (WOAI) — For the first time ever the Food and Drug Administration has approved an immunotherapy first line treatment drug for cancer.
“Cancer cells have adapted to fool the body’s immune system, and our immune system is designed to get rid of foreign invaders. Invaders like cancer,” explains Dr. Anand Karnad, Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UT Health Science Center San Antonio.
And simply put, the immunotherapy works by harnessing the immune system to fight cancer from within.
“This new treatment appears to target that signal and turns off the ability of the cancer cells to switch off our immune system,” says Dr. Karnad.
And although the doctor is quick to point out these treatments, including immunotherapy, don’t work on everyone, the results have been promising for some with melanoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer.
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