Biological therapies in lung cancer treatment: using our immune system as an ally to defeat the malignancy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Biological therapies, particularly immunotherapy, represent a rapidly advancing frontier in cancer treatment.
• These therapies offer targeted approaches, addressing a critical need in oncology.
• Despite significant progress, challenges persist, including patient response variability and the absence of reliable biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current biological therapies for lung cancer, with a focus on immunotherapy.
• To analyze immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, and vaccines in clinical and preclinical development.
• To critically discuss prospective treatments and identify potential biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current biological therapies for lung cancer.
• Analysis of technical and functional aspects of various immunotherapies.
• Discussion of emerging treatments and biomarker research.

Main Results:

• Immunotherapy has shown clear patient benefits but faces limitations in response rates.
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies show promise but require further refinement.
• Biomarker discovery is crucial for optimizing treatment efficacy and patient selection.

Conclusions:

• Biological therapies, especially immunotherapy, hold immense potential for cancer treatment.
• Overcoming limitations requires advancements in understanding patient response and developing reliable biomarkers.
• Liquid biopsy-based diagnostics are proposed as a key development for future clinical applications.