Immunotherapy, A Novel and Effective Approach for Treating Retinoblastoma and Preserving Vision

Retinoblastoma is the most common malignant tumor of the retinal cones in children. Currently, chemotherapy is primary treatment for retinoblastoma worldwide. Unfortunately, metastasis resistant to this method often occurs, leading to relatively poor treatment. This necessitates the development of promising new therapeutic strategies for these patients. Recent advancements in technology have focused on therapies that minimize side effects while optimizing tumor response. Among the innovative and advanced therapeutic approaches are thermotherapy, cryotherapy, and immunotherapy, which have shown significant effectiveness in controlling retinoblastoma. The integration of chemotherapy with adjuvant therapies has notably improved clinical outcomes and promoted better vision preservation. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for this disease. Recently, with the discovery of the epigenetic nature of non-heritable Rb, several target cells have been identified, including gangliosides, CAR-T techniques, bispecific antibodies, and genetically modified dendritic cells. The aim of this study is to review the outcomes of these immunotherapeutic strategies for retinoblastoma. Methods: This review article draws from credible medical, biotechnology, and life sciences sources, including scientific literature and studies relevant to the topic. Results: Retinoblastoma can metastasize through the optic nerve to the central nervous system and spread to distant metastatic sites such as lymph nodes, bones, bone marrow, and the liver via lymphatic or hematogenous routes. Chemotherapy is often ineffective against these metastases. In response, immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies, GD۲ cells, and CAR-T cells has been employed to treat retinoblastoma. These immune cells target and inhibit retinoblastoma cells, leading to their destruction, demonstrating high efficacy in inducing apoptosis and eradicating cancerous cells. Conclusion: Over the past ۲۰ years, global treatment approaches have significantly reduced the side effects of retinoblastoma (RB) by decreasing chemotherapy usage and incorporating alternative therapies. Immunotherapy, particularly through the use of antibodies, has emerged as a key and promising option for treating retinoblastoma, offering hope as a viable alternative for these patients. Therefore, it is anticipated that these new, targeted, and personalized therapeutic strategies will prove effective for retinoblastoma, reducing the severe toxicities, secondary malignancies, and mortality associated with chemotherapy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Retinoblastoma ، Immunotherapy ، Personalized Medicine ، Immune Cells ، Biotechnology