2nd case: Patient’s tumor disappeared after COVID-19 infection
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2nd case: Patient’s tumor disappeared after COVID-19 infection. Is this the direction to overcome tumors?
2nd case: Patient’s tumor disappeared after COVID-19 infection. If human beings continue to explore, can viral infections be used to treat tumors?
A long time ago, it was discovered that even if some cancer patients did not receive any treatment, they were not killed by the cancer afterwards—they were miraculously healed on their own.
However, in subsequent studies, people found that not everyone seems to be able to heal on their own. They have some kind of detailed experience, such as being infected with a certain virus, or having a high fever, or having some bacterial infections. … Is this the legendary “fighting poison with poison”?
First case:
Let us bring the time back to the present. On January 2, 2021, an article published in the “BJ Haem” magazine reported such a case:
After a 61-year-old male patient with malignant lymphoma in the UK was infected with the new coronavirus, a miraculous thing happened-in the follow-up examination, the tumor of the patient’s whole body began to recede, and after PET/CT scan, the tumor lesions of the whole body began to recede !
Second case:
Coincidentally, just a few months later, Antonio Calles, a doctor from the General Hospital of Gregorio Marañón University in Spain, announced on Twitter: also after being infected with the new coronavirus, a patient with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma had a complete remission, whether it was the lungs. Still the tumors on the liver have disappeared! Although the patient took the PD-1 inhibitor Nivolumab during the same period, it has not been completely relieved before. It can be considered that this remission is likely to be due to the new coronavirus infection.
Tumor disappeared after patient infected with COVID-19
Is there really a way to treat tumors by ” A suitable virus”?
This may put the cart before the horse-as early as 100 years ago, a surgeon Coley discovered this phenomenon and began to conduct research:
Previous Case:
In the beginning, Dr. Coley injected patients with different bacteria to eliminate tumors. In fact, some patients did achieve longer survival after receiving treatment. The first mixture injected into the patient’s body was later called “Coley toxin.”
However, it is not these “Coley toxins” injected into the human body that trigger tumor regression, but they activate one of the most important systems in the human body-the immune system.
In fact, in the human body, there are natural enemies of cancer cells-immune cells. Immune cells will keep patrolling and killing cancer cells, but when cancer develops, the body’s immune cells against tumors may not be strong enough to directly destroy tumor cells.
T cells kill tumor cells
At this time, when external forces are introduced, more immune responses will be triggered, making it possible for the weakened immune cells to fight back, which may cause tumor regression.
Up to now, we don’t have to try our luck by injecting bacterial viruses or new coronaviruses as we did more than 100 years ago to see if we can trigger an immune response—because we have found relative maturity over the course of more than 100 years of development. The use of the immune system to eliminate tumors is the latest generation of anti-cancer technology after surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and targeted drugs-immunotherapy, which is currently known as the most promising treatment technology to overcome cancer.
So what exactly is immunotherapy? In fact, in the later stages of tumor development, the body’s immune cells are at a disadvantage, either being suppressed by the tumor, or their own strength is not strong enough. Therefore, in response to different situations, we can eliminate cancer by lifting the suppression of immune cells or enhancing the function of immune cells. This is the immunotherapy technology. it can:
- Help the immune system recognize and attack specific cancer cells;
- Strengthen immune cells and eliminate cancer;
- Provides the body with extra substances to enhance the body’s immune response.
So far, immunotherapy has developed various forms: targeted antibodies, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, oncolytic viruses, immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, and immune adjuvants.
CAR-T cell therapy
Then let us learn about the latest immunotherapy together!
01. Who is suitable for immunotherapy?
As we mentioned earlier, there are many branches of immunotherapy. Among them, the fastest and most popular are immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies. Many products have been approved worldwide, so as long as they meet the requirements Patients suffering from the disease can receive the corresponding treatment.
In addition, the current clinical trials of immunotherapy are in full swing around the world, and patients can obtain relevant clinical trial information through the Global Clinical Trial Center (URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/) to see if there is a clinical project suitable for them. According to regulations, there is no charge for enrollment in clinical trials.
02. Which tumors can be treated with immunotherapy?
From the principle of immunotherapy, almost all tumors can receive immunotherapy. However, because immunotherapy does not take a long time from the actual start of research and development to entering the clinic, relevant research is still needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of use in various tumors.
Currently, immunotherapy has been approved for many therapies worldwide. As of the end of March 2021, a total of 5 CAR-T cell therapies and 10 PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapies have been listed globally, covering Most cancers.
03. Is immunotherapy effective? Can it be cured?
At present, generally speaking, CAR-T cell therapy is very effective in hematological tumors, and the initial treatment response rate can be as high as 80-90%, and some can even be as high as 100%. According to the results of the longest clinical follow-up, the 5-year survival rate of hematological tumor patients treated with CAR-T cell therapy can be as high as 44%. It can be said that the effective rate is quite high. (The recurrence of most tumors is within 5 years, so it can be considered that the patient has been cured after 5 years).
The effective rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors is only about 20% when used as a single agent, but combined with other therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can greatly improve the effective rate.
Since memory immune cells can be produced in patients after immunotherapy, a major advantage of immunotherapy is that patients who respond after treatment tend to have a longer survival period.
There are already many cancer patients who have been cured after immunotherapy, and they have passed the 5-year threshold.
04 If immunotherapy is so good, will there be side effects?
Since immunotherapy is a therapy that acts on immune cells, it may be accompanied by side effects that are different from traditional cancer treatments. Side effects are usually related to the immune system. They may be mild inflammation and flu-like symptoms, or they may be potentially life-threatening diseases similar to autoimmune disorders. Different types of immunotherapy have different side effects.
Common side effects mainly include:
Skin reactions, mouth sores, fatigue, nausea, body aches, headaches and blood pressure changes.
05 After receiving immunotherapy, does the patient still need further treatment?
The memory T cells of immune cells can remember the characteristics of cancer cells, and when they encounter them next time, they can attack very quickly. Immunotherapy can help produce more memory T cells. Therefore, once effective, immunotherapy means a high probability that it will be effective for a long time, and it can prevent cancer recurrence for a long time.
At present, there have been long-term clinical trials. Both Keytruda and Opdivo follow-up studies for up to 5 years have shown that the effective response of immunotherapy is very long-lasting. Even after the treatment is over, it can continue to work.
At present, patients’ immunotherapy programs are also different according to different cancers, drugs, and treatment programs. For immunotherapies that are already on the market, you can consult clinicians for treatment in relevant hospitals. For immunotherapies that are not yet on the market, you can try to participate in clinical trials.
2nd case: Patient’s tumor disappeared after COVID-19 infection
(source:internet, reference only)
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