Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are two common treatments for cancer. Both treatments work differently, and each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Chemotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that involves using drugs to kill cancer cells.

It is often used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, is a type of cancer treatment that involves using the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. It can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy.

How Do Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Work?

Chemotherapy works by targeting and killing rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be given intravenously, orally, or topically, depending on the type of cancer being treated.

Because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, it can also affect other rapidly dividing cells in the body, such as those in the hair follicles and digestive tract. This can lead to side effects such as hair loss, nausea, and vomiting.

Immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. There are several types of immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and adoptive cell transfer.

Checkpoint inhibitors work by blocking proteins that prevent the immune system from recognizing and attacking cancer cells.

Vaccines stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, while adoptive cell transfer involves removing immune cells from the patient’s body, engineering them to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then reinfusing them back into the patient’s body.

When Should Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Be Given?

The timing of chemotherapy and immunotherapy can vary depending on the type of cancer being treated, the stage of the cancer, and other factors such as the patient’s overall health and other medical conditions.

In general, chemotherapy is often given as the first-line treatment for many types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colon cancer. Immunotherapy may be given as a second-line treatment after chemotherapy has failed, or in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for some types of cancer, such as melanoma and lung cancer.

For some types of cancer, such as ovarian and bladder cancer, chemotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove. This is known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy may also be used as neoadjuvant therapy in some cases, particularly for melanoma and lung cancer.

Combining Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating some types of cancer.

For example, a combination of the chemotherapy drug carboplatin and the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab has been found to be effective in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer. This combination has also been approved for the treatment of certain types of head and neck cancer.

However, combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy can also increase the risk of side effects.

For example, combining the checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab with the chemotherapy drug dacarbazine can lead to a higher incidence of side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea.

Timing Considerations for Combining Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

The timing of combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy can vary depending on the type of cancer being treated and the individual patient’s situation.

In general, immunotherapy is given after chemotherapy, although there are some exceptions to this.

For example, in some cases, chemotherapy and immunotherapy may be given at the same time, particularly for certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer and melanoma. This is known as concurrent therapy.

Concurrent therapy can be more effective than sequential therapy, where one treatment is given after the other.

Another consideration when combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy is the schedule of treatments. Chemotherapy is often given in cycles, with a break between each cycle to allow the body to recover.

Immunotherapy, on the other hand, may be given continuously or on a different schedule than chemotherapy. Coordination of the two treatments is important to ensure that the patient receives the full benefit of each treatment while minimizing side effects.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are two important treatments for cancer. The timing of these treatments can vary depending on the type of cancer being treated and the individual patient’s situation.

In general, chemotherapy is often given as the first-line treatment for many types of cancer, while immunotherapy may be given as a second-line treatment after chemotherapy has failed, or in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for some types of cancer.

Combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy can be effective in treating some types of cancer, but the timing and schedule of these treatments need to be carefully coordinated to ensure that the patient receives the full benefit of each treatment while minimizing side effects.