Oral Cancer Treatments – Biotherapy/Immunotherapy
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Biotherapy/Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer
Oral cancer treatment, we believe, is enhanced first by understanding, and then by using your own power of protection: the immune system. Immunotherapy (sometimes called biological therapy, biotherapy or biological response modifier therapy) directly or indirectly uses your immune system to help fight oral cancer or to lessen the possible side effects of some cancer treatments.
When the immune system breaks down or ceases to adequately function, cancer may develop. Biotherapy is designed to repair, stimulate or enhance your immune responses. CTCA now uses treatments such as interferon and colony stimulating factors in conjunction with other modalities, such as surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
Biotherapy/immunotherapy may be used to:
- Stop, control or suppress processes that allow oral cancer to grow
- Help your immune system recognize, and therefore become more likely to destroy, cancerous cells
- Boost the killing power of T-cells, NK-cells, macrophages and other immune system cells
- Alter oral cancer cells' growth patterns to promote healthy cell behavior
- Block or reverse the process that changes a normal or pre-cancerous cell into a cancerous cell
- Enhance your body’s ability to repair or replace normal cells damaged or destroyed by chemotherapy, radiation or other forms of cancer treatment
- Prevent the metastasis, or spread, of oral cancer cells to other parts of your body
Next Topic: Local Hyperthermia for Oral Cancer
