Immunotherapy is changing the way we treat cancer. Instead of using harsh drugs like chemotherapy that harm both cancer and healthy cells, immunotherapy works by boosting the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
This approach has given hope to many people facing serious cancers. But new research suggests that everyday medications—even common ones you can buy without a prescription—may affect how well this treatment works.
A group of researchers from Duke Health has published a commentary in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that highlights this important issue.
The team, led by Dr. Nicholas DeVito, reviewed over 50 studies that explored how other medications might interact with immunotherapy. Their findings show that some drugs people take during cancer treatment could either help or hurt their body’s response to immunotherapy.
Dr. DeVito explained that while doctors often think about how drugs interact with each other, they don’t always consider how medications interact with the immune system. Yet this could be just as important. Changing or removing even one common medicine from a patient’s list might make the difference between success and failure in fighting cancer.
The researchers found that several widely used drugs may actually reduce the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
These include acetaminophen (a painkiller found in Tylenol), proton pump inhibitors (used for heartburn), and corticosteroids (used for inflammation). These drugs may make the body less responsive to immunotherapy or may increase the chances of unpleasant side effects.
However, the news is not all bad. The team also found that some medications might improve how well immunotherapy works. These include antihistamines (used for allergies), statins (used to lower cholesterol), and a group of antidepressants called SSRIs. These drugs may help the immune system respond better to cancer treatment.
The Duke researchers are calling for better tracking of medications in clinical trials, especially those taken over the counter. They believe that this information is important for truly understanding how well immunotherapy works.
They also recommend new tools like patient education materials and electronic reminders for doctors to help manage this issue in everyday cancer care.
This research sends an important message to both patients and doctors. People going through cancer treatment should ask their doctors about all the medications they are taking—even the ones they think are harmless.
Doctors, in turn, need to be more aware of how everyday drugs could change the way immunotherapy works. This could help more patients get the full benefit of this promising new type of cancer treatment.
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