Kidney Cancer Biological Therapy

Biological Therapy or immunotherapy is a systemic type of treatment (affects cells throughout the entire body) used to improve the body’s natural defenses. This treatment uses the body’s immune system either to fight against cancer, or to decrease the side effects caused by the cancer treatment, by administrating substances made by the body or created artificially in the laboratory.

There are several types of biological therapy available for renal cell carcinoma patients:

1). Interferon is a natural protein produced by the immune system cells to fight against foreign agents including cancerous cells. For renal cell carcinoma patients, the interferon boosts the immune system and slows down the cancer growth.
2). Interleukin is a substance normally produced by the body in small amounts to fight against infections or different diseases. This drug is used in patients with advanced stages of renal cell carcinoma by boosting their immune system and slowing down the cancer growth.

The biological therapy side effects are:

• Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, and headache)
• Fatigue.
• Low blood pressure.
• Kidney damage.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Heart attacks.
• Fluid accumulation in the lungs.
• Intestinal bleeding.
• Abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.