Download Biologic Therapy: The Basics

Biologic Therapy: The Basics
What is biologic therapy, and how does it work?
Biologic therapies help the immune system to function better by using substances that occur naturally in your
body. The therapy may stimulate your body to make more of the substance, or the therapy may be a manmade version of that natural substance itself. Other types of therapies use cells from the patient's body, which
are then altered in a laboratory and given back to the patient. Alternative names for biologic therapies include
biologic agents, biologicals, biological response modifiers (BRMs), or immunotherapy.
The body's immune system helps to prevent disease, but it also plays a role in preventing cancer from
developing or spreading. The goal of biologic therapy is to enhance this natural defense and its ability to fight
cancer. Doctors do not completely understand how these therapies work to fight cancer, but the treatments are
thought to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells, to make it easier for the immune system to destroy these
cells, and to prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
Some biologics are used to help deal with the side effects of other treatments. For example, colony stimulating
factors can help the body increase the production of white blood cells after chemotherapy and thereby
decrease the risk of neutropenia and, in turn, infection. Just as there are many different ways of stimulating the
immune system, there are different types of biologic therapies. Some of the biologic therapies include:
interferon, interleukin, colony stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and gene therapy.
How are biologic therapies given?
This varies depending on the particular type of biologic therapy being used. Therapies may be given by
mouth, into a vein (intravenously) or by injection, either under the skin (subcutaneous) or into a muscle
(intramuscular). Therapies may also be given directly into a body cavity to treat a specific site. For example,
gene therapy directed against mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer) may be injected directly into the lung.
Some of these therapies are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but many are still being
tested in clinical trials. Depending on the type of cancer and how far it has spread, some patients may only
need biologic therapy, while others may receive this in conjunction with other therapies ( chemotherapy,
surgery, or radiation therapy).
What are the side effects of biologic therapies?
Although these therapies use substances that occur naturally in the body, side effects can occur as a result of
either the greater production or the higher-than-normal doses administered. The most common side effects
with biologic therapies are caused by the "revving up" and stimulation of the immune system. They include
fever, chills, body aches, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Depending on the doses and how the
therapy is administered, patients may experience a decrease in their blood pressure and may develop a rash or
For more information, call 1-800-789-PENN (7366) or
visit our web sites: pennmedicine.org/abramson
and oncolink.org
swelling at the injection site. Most side effects diminish at 24-48 hours after treatment, and for continuous
regimens these side effects will lessen over time. Remember, every patient is different; some may develop all
of the side effects, while others may have none or be somewhere in between. Biologic therapies are relatively
new, and not much is known about what long-term side effects (years later) they may lead to. Visit OncoLink
Rx to learn more about a specific therapy.
How do I know if biologic therapy is working for me?
This answer varies, depending on the type and extent of cancer being treated. Many patients will have
radiology studies (CT scans, MRIs, PET scans) periodically to see if the tumor has responded (either shrunk
or stayed the same versus grown). Some types of tumors can be measured in the blood with a "tumor marker".
This is a substance that is either produced by the tumor or by the body in response to the tumor, and can be
measured by a blood test. If the chemotherapy is working, one would expect the tumor marker to decrease. In
some cases, a decrease in a patient's symptoms may signal whether or not the medications are shrinking the
tumor. Talk with your doctor or nurse about how your response will be measured.
For more information, call 1-800-789-PENN (7366) or
visit our web sites: pennmedicine.org/abramson
and oncolink.org