Immunotherapy what characteristics are required?

[Beatless]

Had Chemo & Radiotherapy, but what characteristics are required to be given Immunotherapy?

I did hear that your "Proteins" have to be a certain type, true?

[Eglingham]

Hi Beatless,

I am not 100% sure of all the details but I know it is a treatment for non small cell lung cancer and testing is done to reveal biomarkers. I'm sure your lung cancer nurse would answer this for you. Sorry I could not be much help.

[Bebe55 in reply to Eglingham]

Hi Beatless

You need to have PDL or PDL1 hope this helps.

Bebe x

[Beatless in reply to Bebe55]

Thanks!

[JanetteR57]

PDL and PDL1 means protein death ligand on the cells and is a characteristic/biomarker looked for in tumours where immunotherapy may be an option for non small cell lung cancer. during the pandemic in the UK patients were offered Immunotherapy without the usual requirements to reduce exposure to chemotherapy hospital visits and risk of contracting covid in hospital... these were different from those in whom it was originally tested and authorised and results are still being gathered about those... it doesn't suit everyone and not everyone responds well but for some it's really effective. hope this information helps.... roycastle.org/about-lung-ca...

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello Beatless,

These drugs are called checkpoint inhibitors and they target and block a protein (receptor) called PD-1, this is found on the surface of T cells, which are part of the immune system. They also block another protein called PD-L1. By blocking PD-1 or PD-L1, these drugs help the immune system to recognise and attack the cancer cells.

For some drugs you may need tests on the cancer cells to check the levels of PD-L1. The results can tell your doctor how likely a drug is to be helpful, during your diagnostic tests the biopsy’s taken at this time should have been tested for this mutation.

I have added a link to our information on immunotherapy below.

roycastle.org/about-lung-ca...

If you would like to discuss anything you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Hidden]

Yes your protein marker and check point inhibitors will be checked

[nlg1405]

They need to test for PDL1. This needs to be positive and you did need to have over a certain percentage but I believe that this is now not so relevant as treatment has progressed since my mum was first tested.

[Beatless]

Thanks, understand.

But does the procedure help?

[sassassas]

Hi Beatless Hope you are doing ok.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by your question whether the procedure will help?

The test is usually done by looking at a sample of your cancer cells under the microscope. They get them from a biopsy. It does help the clinicians get a better understanding of whether immunotherapy is likely to work for you. Your cells can have anywhere between 0% and 100% expressing PDL1, and at higher levels, immunos are more likely to have a benefit.

Have you had the test done?

Hope this helps but if not, please ask again!

Sarah x

[Beatless in reply to sassassas]

OK, but is it worth having Immunotherapy?

[sassassas in reply to Beatless]

For my husband, absolutely. He has almost no side effects from the drugs and he is now essentially without evidence of disease. Its a year since diagnosis for him (stage 4 NSCLC). Immunotherapy doesn't work for everyone, but where it does, it can give many years with the cancer under control.

[Beatless in reply to sassassas]

Thanks, I'm told I'm 100% suitable & the Chemo/Radiotherapy have cleared the cancer, think just a few cells remaining so I'll go for it.

[sassassas in reply to Beatless]

Hope it goes well for you. If they say you're suitable, they obviously think you really are because these drugs are so expensive!

[Beatless in reply to sassassas]

So, what is the cost?