Radioimmunotherapies (reɪdiəʊɪmjʊnəʊθɛrəpiːz) is a medical term used for a form of cancer therapy that involves combining radiation and immunotherapy. The spelling of the word can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to indicate the pronunciation of each syllable. The word is spelled as "ray-dee-oh-ihm-yoo-noh-thuh-reez". By breaking down complex medical terms into simpler and more pronounceable segments, the medical community ensures that language does not become a barrier to efficient communication within the profession.
Radioimmunotherapy (RIT), also known as radioimmunotherapies, refers to a specialized medical treatment that combines the use of radioactive substances with targeted immune system proteins (antibodies) to selectively destroy cancer cells in the body. This form of therapy is specifically designed to treat cancers that express specific antigens, which are molecules that induce an immune response.
Radioimmunotherapies involve the administration of radiolabeled antibodies, where a radioactive isotope is connected to the antibody molecule. The antibodies are engineered to specifically recognize and bind to these cancer cell antigens, thereby delivering the radioactive substance directly to the malignant cells. Once these radioactive antibodies bind to the surface of the cancer cells, the emitted radiation effectively kills the cancer cells, either by damaging their DNA or by generating toxic compounds.
The radioactive isotopes commonly employed in radioimmunotherapies include iodine-131 and yttrium-90, among others. The choice of the isotope depends on factors such as the properties of the antigen being targeted, the type and location of the cancer, and the desired duration of radiation exposure.
Radioimmunotherapies offer several advantages over conventional cancer treatments, including the ability to precisely target cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Additionally, this approach has shown effectiveness in treating cancers that are difficult to access or treat with other methods. However, due to the potential side effects of radiation, careful monitoring and follow-up are necessary to ensure patient safety during and after treatment.
The word "radioimmunotherapies" is a combination of three root words: "radio", "immuno-", and "therapies".
1. "Radio-" comes from the Latin word "radius", meaning "beam" or "ray". In scientific terminology, it refers to "radiation", specifically ionizing radiation.
2. "Immuno-" is derived from the Latin word "immunis", meaning "exempt" or "free". It is used to describe the immune system and immune responses.
3. "-therapies" is derived from the Greek word "therapeia", meaning "healing" or "curing". "-Therapies" is commonly added as a suffix to indicate a treatment or therapy.