Dr. Ahmed Salman, Professor of Immunology and Vaccine Development at the University of Oxford, confirmed that recent years have witnessed major advances in cancer treatment, with an increasing reliance on immunotherapy and targeted therapies that enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate abnormal cells before they develop into malignant tumors.
Dr. Salman explained, during the program “Egypt Can” hosted by veteran TV presenter Ahmed Fayed, that recent research has made significant progress in “checkpoint inhibitors,” a technique based on preventing cancer cells from evading the immune system’s surveillance or “deceiving it,” allowing immune cells to recognize and attack them more effectively.
He noted that these technologies have not only improved treatment outcomes but also significantly reduced the cost of some medications, explaining that the price of certain doses, which previously reached around $20,000, has dropped to nearly $500, increasing the chances that more patients can benefit from them.
The Professor of Immunology and Vaccine Development at the University of Oxford emphasized that targeted therapy is currently one of the most advanced and effective treatment approaches. It relies on studying the genetic characteristics of each patient’s tumor individually, then designing a treatment or vaccine that matches the tumor’s nature and biological makeup.
He explained that this approach represents a major shift in the concept of personalized medicine, where treatment is tailored to each patient’s unique characteristics, increasing response rates and reducing side effects compared to traditional therapies.
Salman pointed out that targeted therapies still face challenges related to their high cost, but the rapid development in vaccine design and gene therapy technologies brings optimism about the possibility of reducing costs and increasing accessibility in the coming years.
He added that continuous scientific progress in this field is opening the door to more precise and effective treatment options for patients, especially with the growing reliance on biotechnology and artificial intelligence in drug development.
Dr. Salman stressed that the human body has a highly advanced defense system that deals daily with millions of cells that may undergo mutations or abnormal changes. He noted that the main goal of modern immunotherapies is to support this natural system and maintain its constant alertness.
He confirmed that these treatments give patients a greater ability to fight the disease over long periods by enhancing immune memory and stimulating the immune system to continuously recognize and attack cancer cells more efficiently.
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