There have been some advances in treating advanced stomach cancer with immunotherapy drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors. These use the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
Checkpoint inhibitors have been approved for use with chemotherapy as the first treatment for people with advanced stomach cancer that has high levels of the protein PD-L1. Checkpoint inhibitors may also be used when chemotherapy hasn’t worked or when the tumour has a high level of the marker MSI.
Side effects of immunotherapy
The side effects of immunotherapy can vary – not everyone will experience the same effects. Immunotherapy can cause redness, swelling (inflammation) or pain in any of the organs of the body, leading to common side effects such as fatigue, skin rash and diarrhoea. The inflammation can lead to more serious side effects in some people, but this will be monitored closely and managed quickly.
→ READ MORE: Radiation therapy for stomach cancer
Video: What is immunotherapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about drug therapies like immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
Podcast: New Treatments – Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapy
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Dr Spiro Raftopoulos, Gastroenterologist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA; Peter Blyth, Consumer; Jeff Bull, Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Nurse Consultant, Cancer Services, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Mick Daws, Consumer; Dr Steven Leibman, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Prof Michael Michael, Medical Oncologist, Lower and Upper Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, and Co-Chair Neuroendocrine Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Andrew Oar, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Rose Rocca, Senior Clinical Dietitian: Upper Gastrointestinal, Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Letchemi Valautha, Consumer; Lesley Woods, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA.
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