Biotherapy/Immunotherapy for Multiple Myeloma
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Multiple Myeloma Treatment: Biotherapy/Immunotherapy
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we believe your body's own power of protection—the immune system—can be a powerful tool in your fight against multiple myeloma. Immunotherapy (sometimes called biological therapy, biotherapy or biological response modifier therapy) uses your body’s immune system, either directly or indirectly, to help fight multiple myeloma. Immunotherapy may also be used to lessen the side effects caused by conventional multiple myeloma treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation.
Cancers such as multiple myeloma may develop when the immune system breaks down or is impaired. Immunotherapy (e.g., interferons, monoclonal antibodies) is designed to repair, stimulate or enhance your body’s immunity against the malignant plasma cells (myeloma cells). At CTCA, we specialize in using innovative immunotherapies in conjunction with other modalities to treat multiple myeloma.
Immunotherapy may be used in multiple myeloma treatment to help:
- Stop, control or suppress processes that permit myeloma cells to grow
- Make myeloma cells more recognizable, and therefore, more susceptible to destruction by your immune system
- Boost the killing power of your immune system cells, including T-cells, NK-cells and macrophages
- Alter myeloma cells' growth patterns so they behave more like healthy cells
- Block or reverse the process that changes a normal cell or a pre-cancerous cell into a myeloma cell
- Enhance your body’s ability to repair or replace normal cells damaged or destroyed by other forms of multiple myeloma treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation
- Prevent myeloma cells from spreading to other parts of your body
Next Topic: Complementary Therapies for Multiple Myeloma
