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Advanced immunotherapy 

What is advanced immunotherapy?  

Advanced immunotherapy is an innovative treatment that uses the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. This approach seeks to enhance the body’s natural defenses or modify its response to attack tumor cells more effectively. It is a key tool in the treatment of various types of cancer, especially those that do not respond well to other therapies like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. 

What is this procedure for? 

Advanced immunotherapy is primarily used in: 

  • Cancer treatment: It combats solid and hematological tumors such as melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, lymphomas, and leukemias. 
  • Immune system stimulation: It enhances the immune system’s ability to identify and destroy cancer cells. 
  • Relapse prevention: It helps reduce the risk of cancer coming back after other treatments. 
  • Personalized therapy: It presents options tailored to the genetic and molecular profile of the patient’s tumor. 

Benefits of the latest technology in advanced immunotherapy 

Advanced immunotherapy involves different strategies to activate or modify the patient’s immune system. The main therapies include: 

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors: These block proteins such as PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 that cancer cells use to evade attack by the immune system. 
  • Cancer vaccines: These stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack specific tumor cells. 
  • CAR-T cell therapy: This process involves extracting T cells from the patient, genetically modifying them to attack cancer, and reintroducing them into the body. 
  • Cytokines: Proteins such as interferons and interleukins that regulate and stimulate the immune response. 

Monoclonal antibodies: Designed to target specific proteins on cancer cells or help the immune system identify them. 

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What does the procedure involve?

The advanced immunotherapy procedure incorporates: 

  • Preparation:

    During the initial consultation, your oncologist will review your medical history and analyze the results of previous tests, such as biopsies, genetic studies or molecular analysis. Next, you will undergo additional tests to assess whether you are a candidate for advanced immunotherapy. 
  • During the procedure:

    Immunotherapy can be administered in different ways, such as intravenously, subcutaneously, or by cell infusion, in the case of treatments like CAR-T. During each session, your medical team will monitor any possible side effects and assess how you are responding to the treatment. The duration varies depending on the type of immunotherapy and your progress, but it is usually given in cycles that can last weeks or months. 
  • After the procedure:

    You will be monitored regularly to assess how you are responding to the treatment and to detect any possible side effects. To do this, you will undergo regular tests, such as blood tests, imaging studies, and biopsies, which will help measure the immunotherapy’s effectiveness. Next, your oncologist will review the results, who will adjust your treatment plan if necessary. 

Recommendations for the procedure 

It is essential to inform your medical team if you have allergies to medications or to any materials used during treatment. It is also important to follow all the instructions before, during, and after the procedure to ensure your safety and obtain the best results. If you experience symptoms such as fever, extreme fatigue, swelling, or difficulty breathing, inform your doctor immediately. 

Are there any risks?  

Advanced immunotherapy is safe, but it can have side effects related to the activation of the immune system: 

  • Cytokine release syndrome: There is a possibility of an exaggerated reaction of the immune system that can cause fever, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. 
  • Inflammation of organs: In some cases, the immune system can attack healthy tissues, causing inflammation in organs such as the lungs, liver, or intestines. 
  • Fatigue: You may experience a feeling of extreme tiredness during treatment. 
  • Allergic reactions: Although rare, these can occur due to the medications administered. 

To ensure your procedure runs smoothly, we ask that you arrive before the scheduled time. This will allow us to complete the necessary administrative and clinical preparation. 

Before the procedure, we will give you the Informed Consent form, a document with important information that you must read and sign. 

If your appointment is for an MRI, it is crucial that you inform us about the presence of pacemakers, metallic objects, prostheses (including dental prostheses), tattoos, or drug infusion devices such as insulin pumps. 

These diagnostic tests are very safe, but as with any medical procedure, there is still the unlikely possibility of an incident. 

Do you need to undergo this procedure?

Make an appointment

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