(Kidney Cancer) Latest Immunotherapy: Neoantigen

• September 3, 2019
• Read time: 2 minutes

Japan's Kodansha-published FRIDAY magazine ran a report on "Latest Immunotherapy: Neoantigen." A kidney cancer patient who was told by their physician two years ago that they had Stage IV kidney cancer initially felt their life was over. However, the patient was fortunate enough to encounter "neoantigen" therapy. After the primary tumor was removed through surgery, three lung metastases remained. After five months of neoantigen treatment, imaging showed these had almost completely disappeared.

Every person's body contains special lymphocytes with the characteristic of attacking cancer cells. However, the strength of this response varies from person to person, and the key lies in whether the cancer cells have characteristics that lymphocytes can recognize as enemies. Currently, genetic testing can analyze cancer cells to identify characteristics unique to cancer cells. Personalized vaccines are then created based on these characteristics. In the United States, 50 types of ongoing clinical trials have been registered.

The most important requirement for neoantigen therapy is "fresh cancer cells" — only about the size of a little fingernail is needed. Typically, the organ removed during surgery is made into a tumor specimen, from which cancer cells can be extracted. The patient in this article decided to undergo neoantigen treatment after discussing it with their physician. In addition to providing cryopreserved tumor tissue, a special type of blood draw called apheresis was required to extract the components needed for the vaccine.

Once the vaccine was prepared, its location was confirmed using ultrasound, and the vaccine was injected at two lymph node sites — this completes one round of treatment. The procedure takes only a few seconds.

Because this patient's lymphocytes showed enhanced reactivity to cancer cells after receiving neoantigen therapy, treatment progressed very smoothly. The patient did not even combine it with other treatment modalities such as targeted drugs, anticancer drugs, radiation, or immune checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab. This clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of neoantigen therapy. Moreover, neoantigen therapy has almost no adverse events. Once the cancer cell-attacking lymphocytes are activated, the treatment effect can be maintained for a very long time — this is the greatest advantage of neoantigen therapy. Subsequent treatment involves gradually extending the interval between injections and regular checkups.

The report also mentioned that besides this patient, other patients who received neoantigen therapy also had good treatment results. Even Stage IV patients can receive this treatment, with the possibility of life extension. One can clearly sense that cancer is no longer a frightening, hopeless disease!

[Important Note] Medical Supporter's translations of overseas published newspaper and magazine content and treatment information are not intended to encourage use of the treatment methods introduced in the reports. The translated information is for reference only and not intended as treatment guidelines. Please discuss with healthcare professionals for accurate information.

Source: FRIDAY Magazine, October Issue

Medical Supporter was formerly certified as an international medical visa guarantor by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (B-066).

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