ABOUT PHOTOIMMUNOTHERAPY
Photoimmunotherapy Research
Support Association
Aiming for a world free from suffering from cancer -
Thank you for visiting our page.
A new cancer treatment method, "photoimmunotherapy," aims to alleviate the suffering of cancer patients and create a brighter future.
Your support will help restore smiles and hope to many patients.
About us
We, the Photoimmunotherapy Research Support Association, are an NPO established on April 12, 2020.
We carry out the following projects with the aim of supporting the medical development of cancer treatment using photoimmunotherapy.
・Awareness raising and support project regarding photoimmunotherapy
・Policy recommendation project regarding photoimmunotherapy
・Other projects necessary to achieve the purpose
Issues surrounding cancer
"Cancer" is recognized as a national disease in Japan and has become a familiar presence.
In 2019, 999,075 new cases of cancer were diagnosed. 566,460 cases have been diagnosed in men and 432,607 cases in women, which means that many of our family members, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances are also dealing with cancer. Masu. Furthermore, cancer can develop in anyone, regardless of gender, which is why it can be said to be a familiar disease.
The probability that a Japanese person will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime is 65.5% (1 in 2) for men and 51.2% (1 in 2) for women. Furthermore, the probability of dying from cancer is high at 26.2% (1 in 4) for men and 17.7% (1 in 6) for women. This means that each of us is likely to face the disease of cancer directly.
``Cancer'' is not something far away, but a national disease that is closely connected to daily life. It is a disease that can affect anyone, and many people are affected by it.
About photoimmunotherapy
Until now, cancer treatments have included surgery, chemotherapy (administration of anticancer drugs), radiation therapy, and immunotherapy (attacking cancer by activating the immune system rather than directly destroying cancer cells). method) has been carried out. Photoimmunotherapy is called the "fifth treatment method" following these treatments, and has the characteristic of eliminating the disadvantages of conventional treatments.
Disadvantages of conventional treatment methods
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy attack not only cancer cells but also normal cells. Immune cells, which are normally responsible for attacking cancer, are also damaged by these treatments, which can lead to a decline in immune function.
Surgery may involve removing lymph nodes, which are organs responsible for immunity, if there is a possibility that the cancer has metastasized, which can lead to a decline in immune function.
Photoimmunotherapy (Hikarimenekiryoho, English: Photoimmunotherapy) is a new treatment method in which a drug that reacts to light is administered, and once the drug has sufficiently concentrated on the cancer, the cancer is treated with laser light. It's a cancer treatment. In Japan, it was approved in September 2020 as a treatment for “unresectable locally advanced or locally recurrent head and neck cancer,” and it is currently available as an insurance treatment.
Photoimmunotherapy drugs are made by attaching light-reactive substances to proteins (antibodies) that attach to markers (antigens) that are abundant on the surface of cancer cells. When this drug is administered intravenously, it gradually collects in the cancer, and a large amount of the drug attaches to cancer cells in about a day. When a laser beam is applied to the area, the drug reacts with the cancer cells, causing the cancer cells that have a lot of the drug to rupture and die. On the other hand, the photoimmunotherapy drug itself does not damage cells, and the laser light used does not harm the human body, so there are no side effects outside the treatment area like anticancer drugs. It can be said to be a patient-friendly cancer treatment method.
Photoimmunotherapy not only directly kills cells, but also attacks cancer cells by activating the patient's own cancer-fighting immunity. When cancer cells are destroyed using photoimmunotherapy, cancer-specific substances (cancer antigens) are distributed from within the cancer cells to the surrounding area. On the other hand, since the immune cells near the cancer cells are not damaged, surrounding immune cells take in the released cancer antigens and activate immunity against the same cells as the damaged cancer cells.
POINT
・Because it pinpoints only cancer cells, it does not damage normal cells.
・Can activate immunity against cancer cells
Current status of photoimmunotherapy
In September 2020, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was the first in the world to approve the drug in Japan, with the condition that safety and efficacy be verified as the final stage of clinical trials (trials) have not yet been completed. It is only applicable to unresectable locally advanced or locally recurrent head and neck cancers for which there is no other treatment option.
This treatment is limited to facilities that meet requirements such as ``designated training facilities certified by the Japanese Society of Head and Neck Surgery'' and ``having a full-time head and neck cancer instructor,'' and will be available until September 2022. Currently, there are approximately 60 facilities nationwide.
In April 2022, the Kansai Medical University Institute of Photoimmunology was established as a research institute to conduct basic research and clinical application research on photoimmunotherapy. Professor Kobayashi has been appointed as the director.
We also plan to promote research toward clinical application of "photoimmunotherapy" as a fifth cancer treatment method following surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, so that it can be applied to various cancers.
Photoimmunotherapy cancer treatment
-Aiming for cancer treatment with less burden-
``Photoimmunotherapy'' is attracting great expectations as a new cancer treatment method, but at present, the treatment is still limited to patients with recurrence of head and neck cancer.
As you know, cancer can develop in various parts of the human body. Here we will talk about prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer among men.
Treatment methods for prostate cancer are considered depending on the degree of progression and condition of the cancer, but they can be broadly divided into three types: surgery (surgical treatment), radiation therapy, and hormone therapy (endocrine therapy).
Health insurance covers drugs used in hormone therapy for locally advanced or metastatic cancer. However, medicines are expensive, and monthly drug costs can exceed 300,000 yen. If insurance covers 30% of the cost, you will have to pay more than 100,000 yen.
The number of prostate cancer patients in Japan is approximately 100,000. * The economic burden is not small for both the individual patient and the country. *94,748 cases according to “National Cancer Registry Incidence Data (2019)”)
Hormone therapy also lowers male hormones in the body, which can lead to various side effects.
Headaches, hot flashes, sweating, decreased sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, muscular phenomena, liver dysfunction, gynecomastia, breast pain, testicular atrophy, anemia, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, decreased cognitive function, and tendency to depression. However, side effects related to male function are a major problem for young men.
Dr. Kobayashi says, ``Prostate cancer has a specific antigen, which affects 80% of all patients.'' As the number of cancer types to which photoimmunotherapy can be applied increases, it is expected that many cancer patients around the world will be saved. Photoimmunotherapy, which places less physical, financial, and mental burden on patients, is a treatment method that has great benefits for many patients suffering from cancer. Also, from the perspective of the national treasury burden, it is expected that the burden will be reduced even more significantly than by replacing with generic drugs.
In order to expand the types of cancers that can be treated, he will need to conduct clinical trials for each type of cancer and obtain regulatory approval, and he hopes that this will be done as soon as possible.
Dr. Kobayashi's photoimmunotherapy will be a ray of hope for cancer patients suffering all over the world.
Our corporation is convinced of this and will continue to support Mr. Kobayashi's activities.
Our business activities
The "Photoimmunotherapy Research Support Group" has a mission to support cancer patients around the world through photoimmunotherapy and to spread it as a treatment method. We are developing various activities in the hope that this therapy, which has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, will be known and supported by as many people as possible. As one of the activities, we conducted an interview with Dr. Kobayashi. The results will be published in the information magazine "Kids Journal". Through this public relations activity, we aim to get as many people as possible to know about photoimmunotherapy and gain their approval. "Kids Journal" is an information magazine published by Sanaru Co., Ltd., and about 50,000 copies are distributed nationwide.(Click here for details)
In addition, we also make donations to support research. The entire amount (excluding fees) will be used to fund research on photoimmunotherapy. We hope that this donation will contribute to the advancement of research.
Donations are accepted at the "Photoimmunotherapy Support Association Corporate Secretariat".
Please feel free to contact us using the contact information below.
Our corporation is operating with the aim of being approved as a certified NPO so that donation deductions can be applied to those who donate.
We sincerely hope that the research on photoimmunotherapy will continue to advance and that the day will soon come when it will save many cancer patients. We will continue to expand our support activities to realize this wish. Please support us for the realization of a society that does not suffer from cancer.