Effects of Cancer Therapies on Immunoglobulin Synthesis: A Review of Mechanisms, Clinical Implications, and Mitigation Strategies.

Abstract

Chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted biological treatments are examples of cancer therapies that have a significant effect on the immune system. They frequently interfere with the manufacture of immunoglobulins (Igs), which results in immunodeficiency. The processes via which these medications affect B cell activity and antibody production are examined in this review, with an emphasis on cytokine regulation, bone marrow suppression, and therapy-induced lymphopenia. Reduced Ig levels can have clinical repercussions such as increased vulnerability to infections, decreased effectiveness of vaccinations, and compromised immune monitoring. This study also looks at new and existing methods to lessen these consequences, including immunomodulatory techniques, prophylactic antibiotics, and Ig replacement treatment. Optimizing patient outcomes, striking a balance between immunological protection and oncologic efficacy, and directing future research in supportive cancer care all depend on an understanding of how humoral immunity and cancer treatment interact.