Abstract

BARQUERO-SOLANO, Arisai et al. Active immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies as a therapeutic option for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Tecnología en Marcha [online]. 2022, vol.35, n.3, pp.16-34. ISSN 0379-3982.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18845/tm.v35i3.5612.

Pancreatic cancer is the sixth most deadly worldwide, and in the specific case of Costa Rica, the seventh in importance. The significant problem associated with this pathology is a diagnosis in advanced stages since its symptoms are very nonspecific, and in many cases, they do not appear. Also, the treatment per excellence is surgery, but it does not turn out to be entirely encouraging since most patients cannot underwent surgery on, and although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used, life survival at five years is extremely low. For this reason, new therapeutic options, including biological ones, have been investigated. Among them are monoclonal antibodies, whose mechanism of action involves active immunotherapy. At this time, they are in the research stage through phase I and II clinical studies. Most are being evaluated in combination with other drugs. The results of these investigations are scarce, but it is expected in the future to have more information, together with a growing number of options that will allow their availability in the medium term as therapeutic alternatives to improve the hope and quality of life of the people who suffer from this sickness.

Keywords : Pancreatic cancer; treatment; monoclonal antibodies; active immunotherapy; immune checkpoint.

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