The immune response only lasts a few minutes, replacing the traditional vein transfer method that takes an hour.
More than 15,000 patients each year will benefit from this breakthrough - a milestone that could change the way the world treats cancer.
The Guardian reported that in a historic announcement, the UK National Health Service Agency said that from next month, about 1,200 patients per month will start receiving cancer treatment with a new form of immunotherapy, in the form of subcutaneous injections.
The drug is called Nivolumab (commercial name: Opdivo), a monoclonal antibody that works according to a special mechanism: it helps the immune system "recognize" and destroy cancer cells.
Instead of having to lie down for a vein IV for 30 to 60 minutes as a long-standing treatment regimen, patients now only need 1 injection lasting from 3 to 5 minutes.
done periodically every 2 to 4 weeks, this new method not only helps save time but also brings comfort and less psychological pressure to patients.
We estimate that we can save more than 1,000 hours of treatment per month for patients and medical staff. This means that thousands of other medical examinations and treatments can be performed, said Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director of NHS Cancer.
Unlike chemotherapy or radiotherapy that directly attacks cancer cells, immunotherapy activates the patient's immune system to fight tumors. Nivolumab works by inhibiting protein PD-1 in T cells, an important type of white blood cell in the body's defense mechanism.
In many types of cancer, malicious cells secrete signals to "disguise" the immune system, making it impossible for T cells to detect and destroy them. Nivolumab blocks that signal, helping to restore the immune system's recognition and attack capabilities.
This therapy has been applied in the UK before as a varicose vein transfer, but now, switching to subcutaneous injection - approved by the UK Food and Drug Administration (MHRA) - is a practical improvement in a broad range of practice.
According to the announcement, Nivolumab injected form can be used in the treatment of 15 types of cancer, including: lung cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, skin cancer, head - neck cancer and many other solid cancer.
Most newly diagnosed patients who are suitable for the immune regimen will be converted to this vaccination form, which does not incur additional costs compared to the traditional form, thanks to the price deal between NHS and Bristol Myers Squibb pharmaceutical company.
The rapid use of Nivolumab as an injection is not only an effort to improve medical techniques, but also reflects the UK government's deep commitment to investing in "precision medicine" - where patients have access to optimal treatment, the right person - the right medicine - at the right time.
The UK is a center for medical innovation. The shortening of cancer treatment time is clear evidence of that, said Ashley Dalton, UK Minister of Public Health and Prevention.
