The Medical Advisor

Cancer immunotherapy represents a major paradigm shift in oncology — mobilizing a patient's own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, rather than relying solely on surgery, radiation, or cytotoxic chemotherapy. It has emerged as a fourth pillar of effective cancer treatment , offering durable responses and, in select cancers, the potential for long-term remission. Immunotherapy became widely known when former President Jimmy Carter’s medical team used it to treat his metastatic melanoma cancer. When the former president announced in August, 2015 that malignant tumors had been found in both his liver and his brain, most people presumed that he would be dead within months. But just four months later he surprised the world with the news that, following a remarkable and revolutionary new treatment, there was no sign of cancer in his body. The treatment he received was a drug classified as an “immune checkpoint inhibitor”. This class of medications has kicked off a revolut...

Cancer is no longer just a battle of chemotherapy vs. tumors. Modern oncology is uncovering a hidden battlefield inside the tumor microenvironment —one defined not by mutations but by metabolism . Many tumors deploy what researchers now call a “lactate shield” , producing excess lactate that suppresses immune cells and protects the cancer from attack. But there’s growing interest in whether dietary interventions—specifically ketogenic diets—could weaken this shield, restore immune function, and improve treatment outcomes . In this article, we’ll explore: How tumors exploit glucose metabolism to evade the immune system Why lactate is toxic to NK cells and other immune effectors The mechanistic rationale for ketogenic diets in cancer What clinical trials reveal about safety, feasibility, and potential benefits Emerging links to immunometabolism and combination therapies The Tumor’s Metabolic Weapon: The Lactate Shield Most people know cancer as a disease of genetic mutations—but tumors a...

Cancer treatment has transformed dramatically over the past decade. From chemotherapy and radiation to targeted therapies, each advance has sought to tip the balance in favor of the patient. Now, cell-based immunotherapies — therapies that harness and engineer the body’s immune system to fight cancer — are taking center stage. Two of the most promising approaches are CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies. But what makes them different, and how are emerging innovations, including AI and NK cell expansion, shaping the future of immunotherapy? Understanding CAR-T Therapy CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy involves harvesting a patient’s T cells, genetically engineering them to recognize specific cancer antigens, and reinfusing them into the body. These modified T cells can detect and destroy cancer cells with remarkable precision. Strengths of CAR-T: High efficacy in blood cancers: Durable remissions have been reported in leukemia and lymphoma patients. Long-term immune memory: ...

Patrick Soon-Shiong is back in the spotlight with early data from his Bioshield regimen in recurrent glioblastoma. The inventor of Abraxane and a transplant surgeon, Soon-Shiong says the approach could finally move the needle in one of oncology’s toughest indications. In a series of posts on X , the ImmunityBio executive chairman called glioblastoma “medicine’s biggest challenge,” pointing to decades of limited progress with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Standard regimens, he noted, in 90% of cases deplete lymphocytes, crippling NK and T cells and leaving patients prone to relapse. The new approach—described as a “chemo-free” combination of Bioshield (Cancer Vaccine*), NK cell therapy plus an immune-stimulating device—aims to protect and rescue the immune system rather than destroy it. *Note: Cancer vaccinations come in two varieties: preventative and therapeutic. Preventative vaccines allow the immune system to recognize an antigen and activate the immune system before deleteri...