Immunotherapy
We are in a new era in our global war against cancer.
Cancers are able to develop protective shields, thus rendering our body immune system unable to recognize and fight cancer cells. Cancer immunotherapy breaks down these shields and trains our body own defenses to find and destroy cancer cells.
Immunotherapy has become an established pillar of cancer treatment at Onco Life Centre with significantly improved treatment outcomes for our patients with a broad variety of cancers. Our Oncologists at Onco Life Centre work in close collaboration with Cancer Genomics Experts in the US to perform cancer gene mapping and DNA sequencing on our patients’ cancer tissue. Regular teleconferencing and live exchange of information with the US Genomics Experts allows our Oncologists to specifically design unique treatment plans that have resulted in significant improvements in the cancer responses and survival of our patients.
How does immunotherapy help the immune system fight cancer?
Antigens are toxins or foreign substances that trigger an immune response, especially in the production of antibodies. Antigens are targeted by antibodies. Each antibody is specifically produced by the immune system to precisely match an antigen, and this leads to the initiation of a tailored immune response.
Immune checkpoints are regulators of the immune system. These pathways prevent the immune system from attacking your own healthy cells indiscriminately. However, cancer can find ways to hide from the immune system by activating these immune checkpoint targets. Checkpoint inhibitor is a form of immunotherapy that can block inhibitory checkpoints, which will amplify your body’s immune system to help destroy cancer cells. Common checkpoints that these inhibitors affect are the PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 pathways. Immunotherapy treatments can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with other cancer treatments.
What cancers are treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors?
Last year capped an incredible decade for cancer immunotherapy. Patients with more than a dozen types of cancer can now receive FDA-approved immunotherapies.
At Onco Life Centre, our oncologists will specifically design your treatment plan, using such latest breakthroughs in cancer therapy.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are approved to a variety of cancer types, including:
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Renal cell cancer (Kidney)
- Skin cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Oesophageal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Mesothelioma
Targeted therapies
How does targeted cancer therapy work?
- 1. By interfering with proteins on the cancer cell surface, targeted therapy blocks cancer cell growth.
- 2. It also disrupts signals responsible for creating new blood vessels, cutting off the tumor's blood supply.
- 3. Additionally, targeted therapy attaches to specific cell targets, allowing cell-killing substances to be absorbed, leading to cell death.
- 4. Targeted cancer therapy can cause cancer cells to go through the process of cell death.
- 5. Breast and prostate cancers require growth hormone to grow. Targeted cancer therapy can prevent your body from making specific hormones or prevent hormones from being taken up by cancer cells.
Cancer genomics profiling and precision medicine
Precision medicine is the use of genetic changes in a patient’s tumour to determine a cancer treatment most likely for the tumour to respond to.
Cancer genomics profiling helps our Oncologists at Onco Life Centre to identify the best targeted therapy for your cancer illness.
01
Helps us identify the overexpression of a certain gene/protein, which directly promotes the growth of cancer cells.
02
Positive predictors of certain genes help us identify tumours that are most likely to respond to a specific targeted therapy.
03
Negative predictor of certain genes help us identify tumours that are unlikely to respond to a specific targeted therapy and spare our patients from the side effects of that therapy.
Types of Cancer Targeted Therapy
Once specific changes in your cancer genes and proteins have been identified, our Oncologist will discuss with you on the best treatment strategies, as well as help you understand the treatment tolerability and estimated drug cost.
1) Types of targeted cancer therapy based on mechanism of action
Monoclonal antibodies
Targeted cancer therapy
Mechanism of action
EGFR inhibitors
Some cancers make too much of a protein called EGFR. EGFR inhibitors work by attaching to the end of EGFR (a cell surface receptor) to block the action of EGF
HER2 inhibitors and conjugates
20–25% of breast cancers have too much of a protein called HER2. HER2 inhibitors work by attaching to the end of HER2 (a transmembrane receptor) to stop HER2 from attaching to other receptors
Small molecules
Targeted cancer therapy
Mechanism of action
Kinase inhibitors
Kinases are molecules that help send growth signals in cancer cells. Kinase inhibitors work by blocking the action of receptor tyrosine kinases
mTOR inhibitors
mTOR is a protein kinase within a cell. In cancer cells, they may be actively promoting their growth. mTOR inhibitors enter the cells and block the activity of mTOR
PARP inhibitors
PARP protein helps repair damaged DNA in cancer cells. PARP inhibitors act by stopping PARP proteins from repairing DNA in cancer cells
Others
Targeted cancer therapy
Mechanism of action
VEGF inhibitors
Cancer cells release VEGF to form new blood vessels for growth. VEGF inhibitors attach to VEGF to stop it from attaching to VEGF receptor on cancer cells, stopping them from growing
2) Types of cancer that respond to targeted therapy based on the specific changes identified in your cancer genes and proteins
NSCLC (Non-small cell lung cancer)
Gene / protein identified: ALK, BRAF, EGFR, MET, RET, ROS1, PDL1, TNB, KRAS G12C ,NTRK 1-3, HER-2
Breast cancer
Gene / protein identified: BRCA1, BRCA2, ER/PR, erBB2/HER-2, PIK3CA, PDL1, MSI, TNB, PALB2, PTEN
Colorectal cancer
Gene / protein identified: RAS (negative predictor), HER2, BRAF, MSI, TNB, KRAS G12C, NTRK 1-3
Prostate cancer
Gene / protein identified: Androgen receptor, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, MSI, TNB, CDK12, NTRK 1-3
Ovarian cancer
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour
Gene / protein identified: C-KIT, PDGFR
Gastric cancer & Oesophageal
Gene / protein identified :erBB2/HER-2, PDL1, MSI, TNB, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2
Bladder cancer
Gene / protein identified :FGFR2/3, PIK3CA, TSC1
MSI-H or dMMR solid tumours and colorectal cancer
Gene / protein identified : MSI-H or dMMR
Pancreatic cancer
Gene / protein identified : BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM, MSI, PDL1, TMB, KRAS, NRAS, NTRK 1-3, ALK
Medullary thyroid cancer
Gene / protein identified :RET
Biliary tract cancer (Cholangiocarcinomas)
Gene / protein identified :BRAF, FGFR 1-3, MSI, TMB, NTRK 1-3, PIK3CA, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM, MET
Solid tumors with NTRK fusions
Gene / protein identified :NTRK
Cervical cancer
Gene / protein identified : PDL1, TMB, MSI, HER-2, NTRK 1-3
Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Gene / protein identified :BRAF
Uterine (Endometrial) cancer
Gene / protein identified :HER-2, PIK3CA, NTRK 1-3, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM, PDL1, TMB, MSI
Kidney (Renal) cancer
Gene / protein identified : CMET, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM, NTRK 1-3
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Gene / protein identified : BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM, NTRK 1-3, ALK, PDL1, TMB, MSI
FAQ
What is immunotherapy and how does it treat cancer?
Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer by enhancing its natural defenses. It helps detect and destroy cancer cells more effectively and is often used in advanced or resistant cancers.
Am I a candidate for cancer immunotherapy?
You may be eligible if your cancer has specific biomarkers like PD-L1 or MSI-H. Eligibility depends on cancer type, stage, and past treatments. Our specialists perform testing to determine suitability.
How is immunotherapy different from chemotherapy?
Unlike chemotherapy, which directly kills cancer cells, immunotherapy boosts your body’s immune response to recognize and attack cancer.
What types of cancer respond well to immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is effective for cancers like melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and certain breast and bladder cancers. Our team evaluates your case for the most appropriate treatment.
Are there side effects of immunotherapy?
Common side effects include fatigue, rash, fever, and inflammation. Severe reactions are rare but possible. Our team closely monitors and manages any adverse effects during treatment.
How long does immunotherapy treatment last?
Treatment duration varies by cancer type and response. It may last from a few months to over a year, with regular monitoring to assess progress and adjust protocols as needed.
Can immunotherapy be used with other cancer treatments?
Yes, immunotherapy can be combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation. Combination therapy often improves outcomes and is tailored to your specific cancer profile.
How much does immunotherapy cost in Malaysia?
The cost of immunotherapy in Malaysia varies based on the type of cancer, treatment duration, and the specific drugs used. On average, one cycle of immunotherapy treatment may range from RM10,000 to RM20,000.. At Onco Life Centre in Kuala Lumpur, we provide a detailed cost breakdown during your consultation, along with personalized treatment options.
Download our booklet
about Immunotherapy for FREE
