A new breakthrough in cancer treatment using immunotherapy
A new immunotherapy developed in Thailand is preparing for clinical trials, promising to extend patients' lifespans, reduce costs, and revolutionize the current approach to cancer treatment.
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According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Bangkok, on April 20, the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Thai Red Cross and partners, announced progress in developing a Thai-made biological cancer drug.
Professor Virote Sriuranpong, an oncologist at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, said that the research project to produce an affordable immunotherapy drug for cancer is now in its eighth year and has achieved positive results so far.
Alternative drugs developed in Thailand are expected to reduce costs to a few tens of thousands of baht (over $600) compared to imported drugs which cost nearly 100,000 baht ($3,100) per course.
According to Professor Virote, innovation in this type of treatment is crucial.
This drug belongs to a class of antibody-based immunotherapy drugs that work by reactivating the body's immune system, helping to "expose" cancer cells and allowing white blood cells to detect and destroy them.
He stated that conventional chemotherapy only controls the disease for an average of about 8 months, while the new immunotherapy could extend this period to more than 2 years.
Notably, in about 15-20% of patients who respond, survival time can exceed 5 years. This therapy is not intended to completely replace chemotherapy but is used in combination to help prolong the lifespan of patients.
For his part, Dr. Trairak Pisitkun – Assistant Head of Strategy at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and Deputy Director of the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute – said that immunotherapy differs fundamentally from chemotherapy and other targeted therapies by activating the immune system itself, helping the body fight cancer more sustainably across a wide range of cancers, including lung and breast cancer.
The experimental results showed that the tumor was completely removed, paving the way for further testing on humans.
Clinical trials on humans are expected to begin within three months.
The first phase will recruit 20 participants, all of whom are lung cancer patients with tumors expressing at least 50% of the PD-L1 protein. If successful, this breakthrough could redefine cancer care in Thailand, replacing the difficult choice between treatment and financial capability.
PHAM HAI - Bao Can Tho (tnxmai)