443 - Use of Surgery and Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer

NOVEMBER 2020 | The Surgical Technologist | 501 Use of Surgery and Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer Kassandra Bahr, CST, CFA, DBA L E A R N I N G O B J E C T I V E S s Describe the history of immunotherapy s Discuss the monoclonal antibody process s List the types of adoptive cellular therapy s Detail the combination strategies of surgeries and immunotherapy s Review the side effects of immunotherapy T he idea of cancer immunotherapy dates back to the Greek phy- sician, Galen, who connected the inflammatory response to cancer. Later, two German physicians, Busch and Fehleisen, observed tumor regression after an erysipelas infection (skin bacterial infection similar to cellulitis). In 1891, the most noteworthy advances resulted from William Coley, known as the Father of Immunotherapy, who experimented with the immune system in bone cancer treatment. Coley expanded on the work of Busch and Fehleisen; he injected various mixtures of live Streptococcus pyogenes (bacteria in erysipelas skin infec- tion) into patients’ tumors. Coley noted significant tumor remission in sarcoma, lymphoma, and testicular cancers. 2 In 1945, there was renewed interest in the immune system and cancer research with the discovery of interferon and the work of Ruth and John Grahams on the first can- cer vaccine. Then in 1967, Jacques Miller noted the existence of T cells and their role in immunity. 3 The knowledge and process of immunology Surgical removal of tumors and intravenous immunother- apy to treat specific cancers (bladder, kidney, prostate, melanoma) have been shown effective in patients through immune checkpoint therapy, adoptive cellular therapy, cytokine therapy, andmore recent oncolytic viral therapy.