Current Treatment Approaches in Breast and Colon Cancer Breast cancer and colon (large intestine) cancer are among the most common types of cancer worldwide and in Turkey. While early diagnosis significantly increases treatment success, new generation immunotherapies and cellular therapies developed for advanced-stage patients offer great hope. Today, alongside surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies, immunotherapies that strengthen the immune system are widely used in many cancer types.
Breast cancer occurs as a result of the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the breast tissue. The most common symptoms include:
A lump in the breast
Nipple retraction
An orange peel appearance on the skin
Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit
Bloody discharge from the nipple
Treatment success is highly promising in patients diagnosed at an early stage.
Colon cancer may not show symptoms for a long time. Common symptoms include:
Changes in bowel habits
Blood in the stool
Abdominal pain
Weight loss
Anemia
Constant fatigue
Regular colonoscopy screenings in individuals over the age of 45 can be lifesaving.
Immunotherapy is a modern treatment method aimed at enabling the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively. In some breast cancer subtypes and colon cancers with MSI-H/dMMR characteristics, immunotherapy can provide significant clinical benefits. However, it is not suitable for every patient, and the treatment decision must be made after molecular tests and a thorough multidisciplinary evaluation. (Cancer.gov)
CIK (Cytokine-Induced Killer) therapy is a cellular immunotherapy approach based on multiplying the patient’s own immune cells in a laboratory environment and re-administering them to the body. Potential advantages:
May support the immune system.
Has been evaluated in combination with chemotherapy in some studies.
Can create a cytotoxic effect against cancer cells.
Clinical trials are ongoing for various cancer types.
However, CIK therapy is still being researched for many solid tumors and does not replace standard treatments. Its use may vary depending on the country, center, and clinical trial conditions. (PubMed)
CAR-T therapy relies on genetically modifying the patient’s T lymphocytes, reprogramming them to specifically recognize cancer cells. Today, CAR-T therapy shows its strongest results particularly in the following diseases:
B-cell lymphomas
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Multiple myeloma
Research on CAR-T in solid tumors, such as breast and colon cancer, is ongoing; thus, these applications are not yet widely accepted as standard treatments. (Cancer.gov)
Cancer vaccines are personalized treatments designed to enable the immune system to recognize tumor-specific targets. Research is actively ongoing in many cancers, especially:
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer
Melanoma
Lung cancer
While some cancer vaccines are currently in clinical use, many personalized vaccine approaches are still in the clinical research phase.
Every tumor is unique. For a successful treatment plan, a joint evaluation is essential by specialists in:
Medical Oncology
General Surgery
Radiation Oncology
Pathology
Radiology
Molecular Genetics
Interventional Radiology
Turkey is highly preferred by both domestic and international patients due to its advanced oncology infrastructure, experienced physicians, and healthcare centers operating at international standards. Services available in modern cancer centers include:
Robotic surgery
Targeted therapies
Immunotherapy
Molecular tumor analyses
Genetic tests
Access to clinical trials (for eligible patients)
Supportive care and rehabilitation
Cancer treatment has undergone a major transformation in recent years. Immunotherapy, CAR-T, CIK cell therapies, and cancer vaccines are among the most significant treatment areas of the future. However, the suitability of these approaches varies depending on the type, stage, and molecular characteristics of the cancer, as well as the patient’s general health status. Therefore, the treatment plan must be customized personally by an experienced oncology team.
