Pancreatic cancer treatment with immunotherapy

The immune system must recognize and destroy mutated cells, but they can hide from detection. For example, one of the ways to treat pancreatic cancer is to influence the so-called "control points," receptors on the surface of immune cells. Cancer cells act on these receptors and "calm" the immune system. As a result, the immune system does not find them, so the tumor grows uncontrollably. So-called checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are used to treat pancreatic cancer. The first can remove the disguise from tumor cells, making them visible to the immune system. Monoclonal antibodies are artificially modified proteins of the immune system. Despite the camouflage, they find malignant pancreatic cells and destroy or deliver killing substances. Immunotherapy is prescribed at different stages of pancreatic malignancy. Initially, it was used when the tumor had already metastasized to other organs. Still, now it can be used after surgery to reduce the risk of relapse. The drugs are injected intravenously as droppers. There is a certain cyclicity as with other treatment options, such as chemotherapy. Immuno-oncological drugs are injected at certain time intervals. Depending on the drug and dose, these intervals can vary from once every two to every six weeks.