The Outlook for Immunotherapy Treatment
Lung Cancer
The Outlook for Immunotherapy Treatment
Immunotherapy, a relatively new type of cancer treatment, harnesses the power of the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. In some patients, the results can be life-changing. Unfortunately, immunotherapy doesn’t work in every lung cancer. It’s not one disease with a one-size-fits-all treatment.
For instance, if a biopsy and tumor analysis show that a cancer expresses a high level of a protein called PD-L1, there is a fairly good chance that a PD-1 inhibitor (a type of immunotherapy) will be effective. Research presented in June found that the higher the level of PD-L1 in some lung cancer patients, the more effective the immunotherapy was, but there was even improvement with lower levels.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Immunotherapy, a relatively new type of cancer treatment, harnesses the power of the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. In some patients, the results can be life-changing. Unfortunately, immunotherapy doesn’t work in every lung cancer. It’s not one disease with a one-size-fits-all treatment.
For instance, if a biopsy and tumor analysis show that a cancer expresses a high level of a protein called PD-L1, there is a fairly good chance that a PD-1 inhibitor (a type of immunotherapy) will be effective. Research presented in June found that the higher the level of PD-L1 in some lung cancer patients, the more effective the immunotherapy was, but there was even improvement with lower levels.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Treatment: Early Stages
Treatment: Stage Three
There are several types of lung cancer surgery, and the decision about which is best is based largely on the location of your cancer, its size and whether it has started to spread.
Treatment: Surgery
There are several types of lung cancer surgery, and the decision about which is best is based largely on the location of your cancer, its size and whether it has started to spread.