Can immunotherapy drugs help in cancer treatment for transplant patients?

Cancer treatment is researched by various medical organisations worldwide. However, for organ transplant recipients with advanced cancer, fewer studies have explored cancer care. 

As per a latest study by researchers from  Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, immunotherapy drugs can help transplant patients looking for cancer treatment. 

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The study, which has been published in the JAMA Oncology journal, revealed the findings of the drugs in cancer treatment for the organ transplant patients, which was considered risky for a long time. 

“Powerful treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which activate the immune system to attack cancer, were often avoided due to fears that they could also trigger rejection of the transplanted organ,” says Dr Nida Saleem, lead author of the study. 

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Experts systematically reviewed data from 343 transplant recipients worldwide and found that many patients could safely access these life-extending treatments with proper care. 

It was observed that about one in three responded positively to ICI treatment after one year, a success rate on par with patients who had never undergone a transplant. Dr Saleem also mentioned about 36 per cent still experienced rejection within one year of starting ICI treatment. 

Experts warned that there are still challenges, including a risk of organ rejection, especially within the first few months of treatment. However, it was found that a specific combination of drugs (mTOR inhibitors and steroids) may reduce these risks. 

This study underscores the need for more inclusive, hopeful cancer care for transplant recipients in the years ahead.

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