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Immunotherapy

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a treatment that activates or suppresses the immune system and by that assist the immune system in attacking the tumor. This type of treatment is very different from chemotherapy, for example, which directly attacks the cancerous cells but unfortunately also damages healthy tissues.

The immune system has “immune barriers” which serve to regulate the immune system and prevent it from attacking the body. In cancer these functions are readily activated and as a result, the immune system ceases to attack cancerous cells, enabling the tumor to grow and proliferate in the body.

Barriers known as PD-L1, PD-1 and CTLA-4 are found on T-cells and cancer cells. For example, the biological drug Opidivo® (generic name: Nivolumab) activates the immune system against the tumor.

Immunotherapy is a revolutionary strategy, and one of the most widely studied worldwide for its application to numerous types of cancer and various stages of the disease’s development. Treatment is generally provided in the form of an intravenous infusion.

Immunotherapy drugs examples:

PD-1 drugs:
• Keytruda® (Pembrolizumab)
• Opdivo® (Nivolumab)

PD-L1 drugs:
• Tecentriq® (Atezolizumab)
• Imfinzi® (Durvalumab)

What are the most common side effects?

Reaction of the skin

Redness, blisters and dryness. The skin can become sensitive when exposed to sunlight. Inflammation around the fingernails can occur and cause pain when dressing, for example.

Flu-like symptoms

Fatigue, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, body pain and high or low blood pressure

Other side effects may be:

  • Muscle Pain
  • Difficulties in breathing
  • Swelling of the legs
  • Sinus congestion
  • Headaches
  • Weight gain due to accumulation of fluids
  • Diarrhea
  • Hormonal changes
  • Cough

And there could be more

Most of the side effects will disappear at the end of the immunotherapy treatment, but some can occur months and even years later.

It is important to consult with your healthcare professional about coping with side effects.

TRIAL-IN-Pharma offers a unique, personalized research and analysis for patients with metastatic cancer and brain tumors, which reveals innovative and advanced oncologic treatments around the world and support the process of achieving them.

Read our publications on immunotherapy and other innovative treatments for stage 4 metastatic cancer:

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Ovarian Cancer – Fast Track Designation to GEN-1 Immunotherapy

Background

Women with advanced ovarian cancer have limited treatment options in the standard of care and therefore they have much better chances and hope in fighting their disease with new innovative developments.

“Fast track” is a designation by the FDA of an investigational drug for expedited review to facilitate development of drugs which treat a serious or life-threatening condition and fill an unmet medical need.

The FDA emphasizes that a Fast Track designation must show some advantage over available therapy. This can include showing superior effectiveness, effect on serious outcomes or improved effect on serious outcomes; avoiding serious side effects of an available therapy; or decreasing a clinical significant toxicity of an available therapy that is common and causes discontinuation of treatment.

GEN-1 is an IL-12 encased in a nanoparticle delivery system which enables persistent, local secretion of the IL-12 protein. IL-12 is one of the most active cytokines for the induction of potent anti-cancer immunity.

Currently, GEN-1 is being investigated in the phase 1/2 OVATION 2 study investigating the combination of GEN-1 with standard-of-care neoadjuvant (= before surgery) chemotherapy to treat patients with newly diagnosed stage III or IV ovarian cancer. With neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the goal is to shrink the tumor for 3 cycles to allow for surgical removal.

OVATION 2 Study

Data for the phase 1 portion of the OVATION 2 trial was shared with the FDA prior to the Fast Track designation, finding a complete tumor resection was achieved in 7 of the 8 patients (88%) receiving GEN-1 treatment.

The control arm featuring treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy saw a complete tumor resection rate of 50%.

Conclusion

There is room for optimism that GEN-1 represents a game-changer for women with advanced ovarian cancer who have limited treatment options.

Contact us to find out what is the best treatment for YOU

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Ovarian cancer - New drug, GEN-1
Ovarian cancer – New drug, GEN-1

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Improving therapeutic success, extending life and quality of life are our main business. We extend to metastatic cancer patients and patients with brain tumors, the most advanced treatment options in the world and the best experts in Israel and abroad.

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