Biological Therapy
What is biological therapy?
Biological therapy is treatment designed to stimulate or restore the ability of the body's immune
(natural internal defense) system to fight infection and disease. Biological therapy is also called biotherapy or
immunotherapy.
How does biological therapy work?
Biological therapy is a form of treatment that uses portions of the body's natural immune system to treat a disease. Biological therapy is also used to protect the body from some of the side
effects of certain treatments.
Biological therapy often involves the use of substances called biological response modifiers
(BRMs). The body normally produces these substances in small amounts in response to infection and
disease. Using modern laboratory techniques, scientists can produce BRMs in large amounts for use
in the treatment of cancer and other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.
What are examples of biological therapies?
Monoclonal antibodies, interferon, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and several types of colony-stimulating
factors (CSF, GM- CSF, G-CSF) are forms of biological therapy. For example, interleukin-2 and interferon
are two examples of BRMs being tested for the treatment of advanced malignant melanoma.
Modes of biologic therapy that involve blocking the action of specific proteins of inflammation,
called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), are being used for the treatment of a number of diseases,
including rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade)
are examples of commercially available injectable TNF-blocking treatments for patients with severe
rheumatoid arthritis.
What are the side effects of biological therapy?
The side effects of biological therapy depend on the type of treatment. Side effects include flu-like
symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Some patients develop a rash, and some bleed or bruise easily. In addition, interleukin therapy can cause
swelling.
Depending on how severe these problems are, for some patients hospitalization during treatment
may be required. Side effects are usually short-term and gradually subside after treatment ends.
The long-term side effects of the various currently available biological therapies will be better
defined with future research from which will also surely emerge new and valuable forms of these treatments.
Last Editorial Review: 4/16/2002
- infliximab, Remicade - Depicts the medication infliximab (Remicade), a drug used for treating moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis - Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation, which has symptoms that include stiffness, fever, muscle and joint aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis incorporates the use of first-line drugs (aspirin and corticosteroids for pain and inflammation) and second-line drugs (methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine to prevent joint destruction and promote remission).
- etanercept, Enbrel - Details the medication etanercept (Enbrel) a drug used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.
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