New treatment for advanced skin cancer uses patient’s own immune system
JACKSON, Tenn. — A new treatment for advanced skin cancer has been released.
Melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer that presents as unusual moles, sores and lumps. New therapeutic advances for metastatic melanoma now include something called TIL cell therapy, which uses the power of a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer.
“Basically we’re taking the body’s own immune system out of the body. The same immune system that the body thought would work to treat the cancer, but just wasn’t strong enough,” said Brian Gastman, executive vice president of translational medicine and research at Iovance.
This treatment is known as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes or TILs. Real-world evidence shows that using TIL therapy earlier can lead to better results.
Christ White, a cancer survivor, was diagnosed in 2018. The last treatment he did was in January 2020.
“It’s been six years. So, again, ask the questions, advocate for yourself,” White said.
To learn more about treatment options, talk with your local physician about the right plan for you.
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