The expert spoke about the possibility of a drug for the treatment of melanoma to prolong life

Russia's first cellular drug for the treatment of melanoma (a malignant tumor that develops from pigment cells) based on TIL therapy will prolong life and form long-term immune protection of patients. Kirill Masliev, PhD, member of the State Council Commission "Long and Active Life", head of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the RUDN University with a biohacking course, founder of the Heroes Charitable Foundation, told Izvestia on February 10.

According to him, the development of TIL-based therapy, which allows using the patient's own immune cells to fight malignant tumors, will be a technological leap in Russian oncology. Thus, in Russian medicine, the introduction of a personalized approach into clinical practice will accelerate, when treatment is selected not according to average protocols, but taking into account the immunological and molecular characteristics of a particular patient.

In the long term, this can improve the quality of life of cancer patients. In addition, as Masliev noted, it is precisely due to the high accuracy of the immune response that it will be possible to accelerate the achievement of remission with TIL therapy.

"Unlike chemotherapy, which affects both the tumor and healthy tissues, activated T lymphocytes recognize strictly defined antigens on the surface of tumor cells. This makes it possible to reduce the tumor mass as quickly as possible, slow down the progression of the disease and start the processes of immune control over residual foci," he said.

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At the same time, according to the expert, strengthening natural antitumor protection may carry certain risks associated with hyperactivation of the immune system. These can be autoimmune reactions, inflammatory complications, cytokine release syndrome.

"That is why such methods require strict medical control and precise dosing of the cellular drug. If the safety protocols are followed, the benefits of TIL therapy significantly outweigh the potential risks," he noted.

According to Masliev, this approach will open up opportunities not only for prolonging life, but also for the formation of long-term immune protection, which will change the prognosis even in severe forms of cancer.

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Alexander Gintsburg, Scientific Director of the N.F. Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology (NITSEM) of the Russian Ministry of Health, said on January 3 that the effectiveness of the Russian vaccine for the treatment of melanoma is more than 90%.

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