Thymus cancer treatment with immunotherapy

Immunotherapy aims to activate the patient's native immune system, enhancing immune cells' ability to detect cancerous cells. It also increases the power of the immune response helping to destroy tumors. Modern scientists have discovered many ways that can be considered methods of immunotherapy. Still, unfortunately, not all of them are equally applicable to different types of cancer. For example, because the thymus plays a vital role in the functioning of the human immune system, doctors often find it challenging to use most immune drugs to treat thymus cancer. Still, according to studies, some traditional methods (including immune checkpoint inhibitors) remain effective. Currently, oncologists actively use pembrolizumab and avelumab and report satisfactory results. On average, a single treatment session of immunotherapy for thymus cancer takes up to a few hours. It's necessary to avoid any possible adverse effects due to fast medication delivery, mainly if a combination of drugs is used. A single course of immunotherapy might take up to 6 months, depending on the patient's condition and cancer cell features. As a rule, immunotherapy is not used as a primary treatment method. However, it can be a resort in advanced cases, relapse, or resistance to other therapies.