Created by Itzhak Brook MD a physician and a laryngectomee. It contains information about head and neck cancer, life after laryngectomy, and manuscripts and videos about Dr. Brook's personal experiences as a patient with throat cancer. It has information about side effects of radiation and chemotherapy; methods of speaking; airway, mucus, stoma, voice prosthesis; eating and swallowing; medical, dental and psychological issues; respiration; anesthesia; travelling; and COVID-19.
Head
and neck squamous cell carcinoma is an immuno-suppressive malignancy, with many defects in the host immune system contributing to the
progression of disease, as cancer cells evade immune-surveillance due to
accumulation of genetic mutations and tumor heterogeneity. Improved
understanding of the role of the immune system in cancer has led to the
identification of novel therapeutic targets, and the development of a range of novel therapeutic targets which are being investigated for
their potential to provide durable responses and improve the
outcomes of this disease.
Immuno-oncology is an
evolving field of investigation that includes active immunotherapies that are
designed to target and harness the patient’s own immune system directly to
fight cancer. More specifically, it is designed to leverage the unique
properties of the immune system (specificity, adaptability, and memory).The
primary goal of immunotherapy is to shift the balance in favor of an immune
response against the tumor, allowing tumor eradication or long-term suppression
of tumor growth, and the generation of immunological memory. Therapeutic
approaches include: Monoclonal antibodies, Immune checkpoint inhibitors,
Dendritic cells vaccines, and Adoptive T cell therapy. The better understanding of the mechanisms of
immune escape has led to the development of novel immunotherapies that has
shown initial promising results in many solid tumors including Head and neck
squamous cell carcinoma.
