Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the most common type of lung cancer and it usually commences in the epithelial cells of the lungs.

The treatment for non-small cell lung cancer typically involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these options. In 2018, the FDA approved a groundbreaking immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

This has given renewed hope to those suffering from this form of cancer, as it represents a more effective and targeted approach than traditional treatments.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a relatively new approach to cancer treatment that involves using the body’s immune system to target cancer cells.

It involves the use of drugs that stimulate the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This is a departure from traditional cancer treatments, which often involve chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which can damage healthy cells as well as cancerous ones.

How Does Pembrolizumab Work?

Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, is an immunotherapy drug that targets the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), which is found on the surface of immune system cells called T-cells.

When a T-cell encounters a cancer cell, it can become activated and target the cancer cell for destruction. However, cancer cells can evade the immune system by producing a protein called PD-L1, which binds to the PD1 receptor on T-cells and inactivates them.

Pembrolizumab works by blocking the interaction between PD-L1 and PD1, which enables the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

Who is Eligible for Pembrolizumab Treatment?

Pembrolizumab is typically used to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that has already spread to other parts of the body.

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer that carries a genetic mutation called EGFR or ALK are not eligible for pembrolizumab treatment, as they may respond better to other targeted therapies.

What Are the Side Effects of Pembrolizumab Treatment?

As with any medication, there are potential side effects associated with pembrolizumab treatment. However, compared to traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, the side effects of immunotherapy tend to be milder and less frequent.

The most common side effects of pembrolizumab treatment include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and skin rash. In some cases, patients may also experience autoimmune reactions, where the immune system attacks healthy tissue.

These reactions can affect the lungs, liver, intestines, and other organs, and may require treatment with steroids or other immunosuppressive medications.

What is the Success Rate of Pembrolizumab Treatment?

Studies have shown that pembrolizumab can be very effective in treating non-small cell lung cancer, particularly in patients with high levels of PD-L1 expression on their cancer cells.

In one clinical trial, patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who received pembrolizumab had a median overall survival of 10.3 months, compared to 6.6 months for patients who received chemotherapy. Patients who responded to pembrolizumab treatment also had a longer duration of response, with many experiencing remission for more than a year.

What is the Future of Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is still a relatively new field, and researchers are continuing to investigate its potential for treating different types of cancer.

Pembrolizumab is just one example of an immunotherapy drug that has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials.

Other immunotherapy drugs that target different aspects of the immune system are also being developed and tested, and researchers believe that they may eventually be able to tailor immunotherapy treatments to individual patients based on the genetic characteristics of their cancer.

Conclusion

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is a difficult and complex disease, but advances in medical research and technology have led to the development of new and innovative treatments like pembrolizumab.

Immunotherapy represents a major shift in the way that cancer is treated, and holds promise for patients who have few other options. With ongoing research, it is hoped that even more effective immunotherapy treatments will be developed in the future.