What are the different types of biological therapies?
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, you are likely becoming acquainted with a whole new vocabulary — some of which probably leaves you feeling confused, helpless, and overwhelmed. While it might be tempting to put some of these terms on the back burner, others are more pressing — such as biological therapy. Since it involves your treatment, you want to know what it involves. What is it? What diseases does it treat? And, are there any side effects? Show
What is biological therapy?Biological therapy — stimulates the immune system by either suppressing the over-response or activating it. Biological therapy treatment targets the parts of the immune system that are triggering inflammation causing diseases such as auto-immune disorders. Specific medications used for biological therapy include:
Types of Biological TherapiesThere are many types of biological therapies. The most common ones include: Interleukin 5, 6 (IL-5 and IL-6)Interleukins are proteins that regulate inflammation and the immune response. Monoclonal AntibodiesThese are antibodies specifically designed to attack proteins that cause the growth of abnormal cells. They are commonly used to treat different types of autoimmune conditions and cancer. Diseases That Can Be Treated with Biological TherapyWhile biological therapy is often used on its own during chemotherapy, it’s also utilized by healthcare providers in conjunction with other medications to treat several illnesses, including:
Side Effects of Biological TherapyAs with any prescription medication, biological therapy has a risk of side effects. They vary from person-to-person and may range from mild to severe. The most common side effects include:
If Your Doctor Has Recommended Biological Therapy, Let Infusion Associates Help YouAt Infusion Associates, we provide medically-prescribed infusion therapy for patients with chronic conditions in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our team of healthcare professionals is fully committed to making the experience as comfortable as possible for you or your patients. We always inform patients of any potential side effects and answer all their questions before starting treatment. In addition, we have a Registered Pharmacist on-staff to make the process as seamless as possible. If you would like to refer a patient to us or want to inquire about the treatments we offer, you can contact us by calling us at (616) 954-0600 or filling out this form. You can enable or disable according to the purposes: Techniques: Those that allow the user to navigate through Analytics: Those that allow the person responsible Behavioural advertising: Those that store information At Beaumont, our cancer specialists are leading the way in innovative diagnosis and treatment methods to battle cancer. Among the treatment options available is biological therapy, which uses the body's immune system to fight the disease. What is biological therapy?Biological therapy (also called immunotherapy, biological response modifier therapy, or biotherapy) uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. The cells, antibodies, and organs of the immune system work to protect and defend the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. Physicians and researchers have found that the immune system might also be able to both determine the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells in the body, and to eliminate the cancer cells. Biological therapies are designed to boost the immune system, either directly or indirectly, by assisting in the following:
How does the immune system fight cancer?The immune system includes different types of white blood cells - each with a different way to fight against foreign or diseased cells, including cancer:
These types of white blood cells - B cells, T cells, natural killer cells, and monocytes - are in the blood and thus circulate to every part of the body, providing protection from cancer and other diseases. Cells secrete two types of substances: antibodies and cytokines. Antibodies respond to (harmful) substances that they recognize, called antigens. Specific (helpful) antibodies match specific (foreign) antigens by locking together. Cytokines are proteins produced by some immune system cells and can directly attack cancer cells. Cytokines are "messengers" that "communicate" with other cells. What are the different types of biological therapies?There are many different types of biological therapies used in cancer treatment. Biological response modifiers (BRMs) change the way the body's defenses interact with cancer cells. BRMs are produced in a laboratory and given to patients to:
BRMs include nonspecific immunomodulating agents, interferons, interleukins, colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, cytokine therapy, and vaccines:
Are there side effects of biological therapies?As each person's individual medical profile and diagnosis is different, so is his/her reaction to treatment. Side effects may be severe, mild, or absent. Be sure to discuss with your cancer care team any/all possible side effects of treatment before the treatment begins. Side effects of biological therapy, which often mimic flu-like symptoms, vary according to the type of therapy given and may include the following:
Specifically, cytokine therapy often causes fever, chills, aches, and fatigue. Other side effects include a rash or swelling at the injection site. Therapy can cause fatigue and bone pain and may affect blood pressure and the heart. Which of the following are biological therapies?Several types of biological therapy exist, including:. Adoptive cell transfer.. Angiogenesis inhibitors.. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy.. Biochemotherapy.. Cancer vaccines.. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.. Cytokine therapy.. Gene therapy.. What are therapeutic biologicals?Overview. Biological therapeutics, also referred to as Biologicals, are those class of medicines which are grown and then purified from large-scale cell cultures of bacteria or yeast, or plant or animal cells.
What are biological treatments in psychology?any form of treatment for mental disorders that attempts to alter physiological functioning, including drug therapies, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosurgery. Also called biomedical therapy.
What is biological therapy for cancer?Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy. Biological therapy is a type of treatment that uses substances made from living organisms to treat cancer.
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