can immunotherapy be used for breast cancer

Release time ：Nov-10,2024

Immunotherapy holds significant potential in the treatment of breast cancer. Typically, it works by stimulating the patient's immune system to identify and combat cancer cells, offering a viable therapeutic option for certain breast cancer patients.

The application of immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment is primarily concentrated in the following areas:

1. Immune checkpoint inhibitors: These medications can block the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway on cancer cells, freeing T cells to attack cancer cells more effectively. For patients with advanced breast cancer that is HER2 negative and PD-L1 positive, combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy may lead to improved survival outcomes.

2. Vaccine therapy: This involves injecting specific tumor antigens to provoke a targeted immune response against cancer cells. Currently, for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, HER2 vaccines are available for adjuvant therapy.

3. Cellular therapy: For instance, CAR-T cell therapy involves engineering a patient's T cells to specifically recognize and destroy cancer cells. While CAR-T cell therapy is predominantly used for hematological malignancies, research into its application for breast cancer is ongoing.

It is important to note that not all breast cancer patients are candidates for immunotherapy. Treatment decisions should be made based on a comprehensive assessment of the patient's tumor type, stage, molecular marker expression, and overall health. Therefore, when considering immunotherapy as part of a breast cancer treatment plan, patients should do so under the guidance of a qualified physician to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes.

In conclusion, while immunotherapy presents promising prospects in breast cancer treatment, further research is needed to delineate its scope and efficacy. Patients undergoing immunotherapy should closely monitor their condition and adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen as directed by their healthcare provider.