Tekk, Author at Kids Cancer Resources

Introduction to Immunotherapy

Tekk — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:28:31 +0000

What is the immune system?
Our immune system is one of our body’s most important defense mechanisms. Most
commonly we think about it protecting us from infections – things like bacteria and
viruses – which is a really important job of our immune system! But our immune system
also helps protect us from cancer and can even be used to treat certain cancers.
In our bodies, our immune system is made up of immune cells called white blood cells.
Different types of white blood cells are responsible for different parts of the defense.
Some white blood cells kill bacteria, viruses, or other cells directly. Some white blood
cells create a memory of an invader so that the body can respond faster next time – this
is what happens when you have “immunity” to something. One way the immune system
creates immunity is by producing antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that circulate in
the blood and are specially designed to identify specific invaders. For example, if you
get strep throat, your immune system creates antibodies against the streptococcal
bacteria. Those antibodies identify and latch on to the streptococcal bacteria and alert
white blood cells to come kill it. Finally, there are also white blood cells that help control
the immune system and tell it when it’s time to calm down. This helps stop the process
when a threat is resolved and keeps the immune system from attacking cells that are
supposed to be there (normal cells). When this process is broken, you can get
diseases called autoimmune diseases where the immune system is attacking your own
body.

How does the immune system protect us from cancer?
As our bodies are growing and developing our cells are always dividing to form new
cells. This requires the cell to copy its genetic material so that the two new cells are
exact replicas of one another. This is a complicated process that sometimes goes
wrong. Most of the time, your immune system recognizes this “bad” copy, and the cell
is destroyed.

How to cancer cells escape the immune system?
Incredibly rarely, the immune system may not detect a mistake. When those “bad” cells
remain in the body and divide and grow, they can form a tumor or cancer. Cancer cells
are tricky and develop ways to avoid being destroyed by the immune system. Normally,
the immune system will make antibodies that recognize the surface of abnormal cells.

Cancer cells can actually decrease the markers on their surface so that they can “hide”
from the immune system. Cancer cells can also secrete substances that signal the
immune system to be quiet or turn off the immune system and recruit the white blood
cells that calm down the immune response. They can also create physical barriers that
protect them from the immune system or make the environment around them
inhospitable for white blood cells.
It is very hard for the immune system to overcome these cancer defense mechanisms.
Although there are ways to boost your immune system with dietary changes like taking
vitamins, cancer cells are usually too smart and powerful for even the healthiest of
immune systems to conquer on their own.

How can we help the immune system kill cancer cells?
Luckily, scientists are developing more and more ways to help the immune system
attack cancer cells. Using the immune system to treat cancer is called immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy comes in many different forms. Many types of immunotherapy are
designed for very specific types of cancer and not all cancers are susceptible to known
immunotherapy options – although we’re working on it!

Antibodies
One option is to give extra antibodies that are created in a lab that can attach to a
marker on the cancer cell surface. These antibodies will latch on to the cancer cells and
promote the body’s own white blood cells to kill the cells. Antibodies can also be given
with other medicines that help boost the immune response or together with
chemotherapy. For an antibody to work, you have to have a marker that is expressed
on most of the cancer cells. Sometimes, we have to test tumor cells to prove they have
the specific marker before we will give the antibodies. The most common tumor we
treat with an antibody is neuroblastoma.

Cellular therapy
Another option is to give a patient extra white blood cells. This can be the patient’s own
white blood cells that have been modified and are given back to the patient or white
blood cells that are collected from a donor and given to the patient.
Sometimes, a patient is just given extra white blood cells either alone or with
chemotherapy. Sometimes, the cells are modified or changed to make them more
effective against a patient’s specific cancer cells.

One specific type of cellular therapy is “tumor infiltrating lymphocytes” or TILs. TILs are
white blood cells that are naturally within or near the patient’s tumor. To be used as a
treatment, they are extracted from the patient’s tumor, expanded in a laboratory, and
given back to the patient.
Another type of modified cellular therapy is “chimeric antigen receptor T-cells” or “CAR
T-cells.” White blood cells called T-cells can directly kill invaders like bacteria or cancer
cells. They recognize what to kill through a receptor on their surface that identifies a
specific marker on the surface of their target. In a CAR T-cell, a receptor that is
attracted to a patient’s cancer cells is added to T-cells in the laboratory. Those T-cells
are expanded and then given back to the patient. These T-cells can then target the
cancer cells and kill them.

Cancer vaccines
Just like vaccines to prevent infection, scientists have developed vaccines against
cancer. When a patient receives the cancer vaccine, their immune system creates its
own antibodies to attack the cancer.

Checkpoint Inhibitors
One way that the immune system is prevented from attacking normal cells and causing
autoimmune diseases is through “off switches” called check points. Cancer cells can
also activate these “off switches” in an effort to evade the immune system. Check point
inhibitors are medicines that can block the “off switch” and keep the immune cells
turned on so they can attack the tumor cells.

Side effects
Most side effects of immunotherapies are related to over activation of the immune
system. You can see fevers and vital sign (respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure)
changes just like when the immune system is fighting an infection. You can also see
side effects that look like autoimmune disease – immune cells attacking normal cells.
For example, you can see inflammation of the lungs or GI tract.

Is immunotherapy for everyone?
Many immunotherapies are designed to treat specific cancers, and some cancers aren’t
as susceptible to attack by the immune system. More immunotherapy treatments are being
developed all the time. Talk to your child’s physician about what options exist for your child’s cancer.

– Dr. Sutton, Kathryn

The post Introduction to Immunotherapy appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Coping Skills Coloring Book for Cancer Kids and Families

Tekk — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:53:37 +0000

Finally, a resource that is relatable and interactive for kids to practice coping with childhood cancer! This coloring book was created specifically for children going through cancer treatments and their siblings. When our son went through cancer treatments, we couldn’t find many easily available, interactive resources that helped children deal with cancer. This coloring book gives kids tips on how to cope with negative emotions that often come with chronic sickness and frequent hospital stays. The illustrations were hand drawn by our 14 year old niece who wanted to use her passion of art to help and make a difference.

Cancer kids and siblings can color kids who look like them, whether they have a head full of hair or not. They are invited to write what they can do to feel better when they are sad or angry. This resource has been donated and well received by several hospitals such as John Hopkins and Children’s Hospital of Atlanta and cancer summer camps such as Camp Quality.

. Ut tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut.

Making a difference

Cong Over 600 coloring books have donated so far due to community generosity. These books have been well received at hospitals such as John Hopkins and the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta as well as summer camps for childhood cancer such as Camp Quality and Camp Sunshine

The content of what you have created is so wonderful, and I think will be such a helpful tool for families and staff as they work with patients or siblings to better understand their complex emotions associated with treatment.
– OLindsay WhitesdieO

Turpis cursus in hac habitasse platea. Lacus vel facilisis volutpat est velit. Sit amet risus nullam eget felis eget nunc. Dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant. Id interdum velit laoreet id donec ultrices tincidunt arcu non. Pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis. Molestie ac feugiat sed lectus vestibulum mattis.

Et pharetra pharetra massa massa ultricies mi quis hendrerit dolor. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabitur. Sociis natoque penatibus et magnis. Facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque. Hac habitasse platea dictumst vestibulum rhoncus est. Sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes nascetur ridiculus. In aliquam sem fringilla ut morbi tincidunt. Aenean pharetra magna ac placerat. Et pharetra pharetra massa massa ultricies mi quis.

The post Coping Skills Coloring Book for Cancer Kids and Families appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Take Your Online Donation to the Next Level!

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:59:26 +0000

Cras semper auctor neque vitae tempus quam pellentesque nec. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl condimentum id. Dictum fusce ut placerat orci nulla dusturen pellentesque Praesent tristique magna sit amet purus gravida quis. Vitae elementum curabitur vitae nunc sed velit dignissim nuncs odales. Diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque fermentum dui. Nisl nisi scelerisque eu ultrices. Facilisis magna etiam tempor pharetra massa massa ultricies mi. Nascetur ridiculus mus mauris vitae ultricies leo. Scelerisque in dictum non consectetur a erat nam at lectus. Lacus luctus accumsan tortor posuere ac ut consequat. Morbi quis commodo odio aenean se adipiscing vitae diam.

Dolor morbi non arcu risus quis varius. Sit amet est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet. Et magnis dis parturient montes nascetur. Amet facilisis magna etiam tempor orci. Egestas pretium aenean pharetra magna ac placerat vestibulum. Diam ut venenatis tellus in metus vulputate eu scelerisque felis.Arcu ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et. Posuere lorem ipsum dolor sit. Duis ultricies lacus sed turpis tincidunt id aliquet. Ut tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut.

Assistance in the Student Program

Congue eu consequat ac felis donec et odio. Facilisis gravida neque convallis a. Eget est lorem ipsum dolor sit. Ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam. Erat pellentesque adipiscing commodo elit. Tortor at risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames. Sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien. Blandit massa enim nec dui nunc mattis enim ut tellus.

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post Take Your Online Donation to the Next Level! appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Giving Voice To The Voiceless

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:56:41 +0000

Assistance in the Student Program

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post Giving Voice To The Voiceless appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Providing Clean Water on the Blue Planet

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:51:19 +0000

Assistance in the Student Program

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post Providing Clean Water on the Blue Planet appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Get Ready For #Giving Tuesday 2020

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:46:39 +0000

Assistance in the Student Program

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post Get Ready For #Giving Tuesday 2020 appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Children in Africa Draw their Dreams

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:08:15 +0000

Assistance in the Student Program

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post Children in Africa Draw their Dreams appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Take Your Online Donation to the Next Level!

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:05:53 +0000

Assistance in the Student Program

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post Take Your Online Donation to the Next Level! appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

In Africa a Little Help Can Go a Long Way

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 12:34:54 +0000

Assistance in the Student Program

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post In Africa a Little Help Can Go a Long Way appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.

Extending Compassionate Health Care Delivery

Tekk — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 12:30:50 +0000

Assistance in the Student Program

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning failure. – OLIVER SANDERO

The post Extending Compassionate Health Care Delivery appeared first on Kids Cancer Resources.