Cancer is the world's most dreaded disease with a high global fatality rate. Any region of the body might be affected by the condition brought on by the body's unchecked cell development. Every year, millions of people die from cancer despite numerous advances in medical research. Recent innovations by health research institutes are, however, altering the situation.
There are no known causes for cancer. Some factors known to increase the risk of developing cancer are exposure to radiation, chemicals, and smoking. The best way to avoid these risk factors is to remain informed.
For a long time, it was understood that cancer was incurable or difficult to treat. Recent advancements made in the treatment of this disease have helped many to win the battle and overcome them. For others, there has been a perceptible improvement in the 5-year survival rate and quality of life.
Significantly, everyone should be aware of the latest advancements made by clinical research organizations in diagnosing dreaded diseases in the early stages and the best treatment available.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is one of the most effective developments made recently in cancer treatment. To fight against the disease, it uses the body's immune system. Various cancer types are treatable by using immunotherapy.
It combines frequently with other therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery. Lung, Breast, and melanoma cancers are just a few types that can be treated effectively with immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy is like giving your body's defence system a key to unlock its full potential against cancer. You see cancer cells are clever; they need to dodge the immune system to grow and spread.
The great news is that many immunotherapy treatments can keep your immune system switched on and help spot those sneaky cancer cells in the long run - even after your therapy finishes. After years of treatment, immunotherapy has the power to hit the brakes on advanced cancer spreading in some lucky folks.
Keep in mind that immunotherapy might not work for everyone (it is effective for about 20% to 30% of patients), but those who do respond can see significant results lasting a long time. Plus, there is always an option to join forces with chemotherapy, if immunotherapy alone does not do the trick.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is another development in cancer treatment. This kind of treatment goes at particular genes or proteins responsible for the development of cancerous cells. It is frequently used with other therapies, such as surgery or radiation, to treat various forms of cancer. Cancer cells that have developed resistance to previous therapies are treated with targeted therapy. Numerous targeted medicines already exist, and more are being created all the time. Most of them have shown promise in the treatment of various cancers.
Targeted Chemotherapy Boosts Survival
Chemotherapy on its own has the power to inhibit the growth, division, and spread of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may eventually lose its potency if cancer cells discover new methods to proliferate or divide.
By examining tumours for certain alterations known as driving mutations on cancer cells and devising targeted therapies specifically for those mutations, scientists overcame this obstacle and created tailored treatments. Approximately 20–40% of lung cancer patients have driving mutations.
This enables us to focus on mutations that are affecting patient outcomes, such as HER2 in breast cancer and EGFR in lung cancer. Targeted chemotherapy can raise the one-year survival rate for patients with metastatic lung cancer, by roughly 10% in the absence of treatment.
Combination Treatments may Increase the Effectiveness
For certain patients, the best outcomes can be achieved by combining individually tailored immunotherapy with precisely targeted chemotherapy. Thus, researchers are attempting to uncover the optimal strategies.
Scientists at health research institutes are attempting to enhance surgical results by adopting combination therapy because surgery alone can only cure early-stage lung cancer in 60–70% of patients. Immunotherapy and targeted treatments are now authorized following surgery. These treatments aid the body in getting rid of any remaining cancer cells. Others may benefit from a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy to help a tumour shrink, making dangerous surgical treatments less necessary.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses light-activated drugs to kill cancer cells in a couple of therapy sessions. Light-activated drugs are applied to the skin in the first session while the skin cancer is exposed to a special light. The light helps the drug to produce a chemical reaction that works more effectively.
PDT is used for various types of cancer, including lung cancer, skin cancer, and pancreatic cancer. This therapy combines radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. This therapy is effective, safe, and has few side effects.
Hyperthermia
A cancer therapy called hyperthermia uses heat to harm and kill cancer cells. The heat can be applied, externally using radiofrequency waves, heat lamps, or inside through heated medications or probes. Numerous cancers, including breast, brain, and skin cancers, can be successfully treated with hyperthermia.
Medical Advancements for Treating Cancer
According to WHO, cancer alone is the cause of death for around 10 million people every year. Only 20% of lung cancer patients were still alive one year following their diagnosis in 2008. At the time, there were only four medications available for therapy. It amounted to postponing the inevitable for the majority of patients.
Scientists and medical researchers at clinical research organizations are using AI, precision oncology, DNA sequencing, and other technologies to improve diagnosis and treatment. After receiving cancer therapy, 60–80% of my patients are now enjoying longer and more active lives, working, traveling, and creating memories with their families.
The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India in collaboration with the World Economic Forum aims to hasten the implementation of 18 cancer interventions, including treatments for commonly occurring cancers such as breast, lung, and colon. Though there was a decline in cancer mortality rates before the pandemic, the diagnosis and treatment backlog created by COVID-19 has affected the progress.
Yet, there is hope as medical advancements contribute to the fight against cancer. Here are eight promising developments in this regard.
Oncology with Precision
Sizhen Wang, CEO of Genetron Health, claims that precision oncology is the "best new weapon to defeat cancer" in a blog post for the World Economic Forum. It entails researching the molecular makeup and genetic composition of cancer tumours in specific patients. The precision oncology method finds cell-level alterations that could promote the growth and spread of the malignancy. Then, customized therapies might be created. In contrast to broad therapies like chemotherapy, precision oncology treatments are focused, which can result in less damage to healthy cells and fewer side effects.
A Seven-minute Cancer Injection
Instead of an existing wait time of up to. hour for the same medicine to be administered through intravenous infusion, England's National Health Service (NHS) will be the first in the world to employ a cancer therapy injection that only takes seven minutes to give. Patients' recovery times will be accelerated and time will be freed up for medical staff members. Atezolizumab, also known as Tecentriq, is a medication used to treat malignancies such as lung and breasts. It is anticipated that most of the 3,600 NHS patients in England presently getting it intravenously would transition to the injection.
Cancer is Fought with Artificial Intelligence
Partners of the World Economic Forum are transforming cancer care in India by utilizing cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI). and machine learning. For instance, AI-based risk profiles can assist in cancer screening, enabling early identification of prevalent malignancies like breast cancer. X-rays may be analyzed using AI technology to find tumours in cases when imaging specialists might not be present. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India, in partnership with the Forum, aims to speed up 18 cancer therapies, including these two.
Cancer Tumour DNA Sequence Infographic
More than 12,000 cancer tumors' DNA has been sequenced by researchers at Cambridge University Hospitals to provide fresh information on the illness. Image: Cambridge University Hospitals/Science
Increased Capacity for Prediction
In the US, lung cancer claims more lives each year than the following three malignancies combined. X-rays and scans alone are notoriously ineffective in detecting the illness in its early stages. However, using a low-dose CT scan, MIT researchers have created an AI learning model that can forecast a person's risk of acquiring lung cancer up to six years in advance. According to recent research, "Sybil" can predict both short- and long-term lung cancer risk after being trained using sophisticated imaging data.
Cancer DNA Reveals Hints
Scientists from clinical research organizations report that the DNA of cancer tumours from 12,000 patients at Cambridge University Hospitals in England is providing fresh information on the origins of cancer. Oncologists are finding several mutations that have contributed to each person's cancer by studying genetic data. For instance, cigarette smoking, exposure to UV radiation, or cellular internal problems. The scientists compare them to "fingerprints in a crime scene" and more of them are being discovered. The study's lead author, Dr. Andrea Degasperi of the Department of Oncology at Cambridge University, claims that "we uncovered 58 new mutational signatures and expanded our knowledge of cancer."
Synthetic and Liquid Biopsies
The primary method by which doctors identify cancer is through biopsies; nevertheless, this intrusive procedure requires the removal of a sample of tissue from the body, occasionally by surgery, to be evaluated in a laboratory. Blood samples may be examined for indications of cancer using liquid biopsies, a simpler and less intrusive procedure. Another breakthrough that can encourage cancer cells to surface in the early stages of the disease is synthetic biopsies.
The use of CAR-T cells
Leukaemia patients have reported success with a therapy that directs immune cells to seek out and eradicate cancer cells. The procedure, known as CAR-T-cell therapy, entails extracting and genetically modifying T cells from cancer patients. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are produced by the altered cells, are then. These can spot and eliminate cancer cells. Two of the first patients who had CAR-T cell treatment were still in remission 12 years later, according to research published by University of Pennsylvania researchers in the journal Nature.
Pancreatic Cancer Prevention
One of the deadliest malignancies is pancreatic cancer. Rarely is it detected before it begins to spread, and its five-year survival rate is less than 5%. Scientists at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine created a test that, in a trial, successfully detected 95% of early pancreatic tumours. The study describes how biomarkers in extracellular vesicles, which are small, regulated cell-to-cell communication components, were utilized to identify pancreatic, ovarian, and bladder cancer at stages I and II.
The Future of Cancer Treatment
Although there have been notable improvements in cancer treatment over the past 20 years, there is still much to learn about how cells interact, how the immune system is controlled, and how to identify cancer. Scientists at health research institutes are currently focusing on identifying crucial chemical signals that facilitate cell communication to treat this condition. The ultimate objective is to create novel immunotherapies that engage the immune system without harming the body. Collaboration amongst cancer specialists at the International Institute of Innovation & Technology to identify particular mutations that can be treated with immunotherapy is necessary to develop customized treatment plans. They can create individualized treatment programs and timetables by using a cooperative approach.
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