Quick Read:
- The Cancer BioShield™ is a revolutionary multi-model approach to healing breast cancer. It’s designed to reverse immune collapse and empower the body to heal itself from the inside out.
- It can be paired with Chemotherapy or Radiation to optimize their capabilities and minimize side effects, or be a powerful healing therapy on its own.
- There are many other safe, effective therapies to try, such as Cryoablation, Dendritic Cell Therapy, Insulin Potentiated Therapy, and The NanoKnife.
“We are entering a new era in oncology where the goal is not only to target the tumor but to protect and empower the immune system itself.” – Dr. Soon-Shiong
When it comes to your health, your immune system is one of the main characters. And yet, many (and often 100% necessary) cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation often leave your body’s defense system severely compromised, wiping out the very cells your body needs to fight, recover, and thrive. THIS is one of the main reasons why integrative oncology and the 7 Essentials System® [1] are critical in your mind, body, and soul healing plan.
And now, there’s a new superhero, Cancer BioShield™, that can give you the happy and healthy ending you are seeking.
What is the Cancer BioShield platform?
Developed by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a trailblazer in cancer immunotherapy and founder of ImmunityBio [2], the Cancer BioShield™ platform is designed to rebuild and protect the immune system, especially when it’s being destroyed by cancer and treatments.
The multi-model approach is an emerging reality backed by FDA-authorized therapies, clinical trials, and one visionary mission: to transform cancer care by reversing immune collapse and empowering the body to heal itself from the inside out.
The Cancer BioShield™ Approach
The Cancer BioShield™ uses these three therapies to optimize your immune system. (This info was directly taken from ImmunityBio.com [3].)
- In-vivo stimulation: Subcutaneous administration of ANKTIVA expands NK and T cells, boosting anti-tumor immunity.
- Ex-vivo targeted cytotoxicity: Off-the-shelf PD-L1 t-haNK CAR-NK cells are engineered to target and eliminate PD-L1–expressing tumor cells and immunosuppressive neutrophils (myeloid-derived suppressor cells), enhancing anti-tumor specificity and reducing immune evasion.
- Memory Cytokine-Enriched Natural Killer (M-ceNK) cell therapy: M-ceNK cells are developed via cytokine activation and expansion of autologous and allogeneic NK cells collected through apheresis, potentially providing long-term immune memory and sustained cytotoxic capacity.
If the above was in gibberish to you, here’s what it does: Each part works together to offer a comprehensive, novel, immune-restoring therapeutic platform aimed at not only expanding effector immune cells but also overcoming tumor-mediated immune suppression to support long-term disease control.
In short, it makes your immune system so powerful that it makes it more difficult for cancer and other diseases to grow. If you are undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation, the Cancer BioShield™ can work in conjunction with your treatment to enhance its effectiveness and reduce side effects.
Why Does The Cancer BioShield™ Platform Focus on Lymphopenia?
If you don’t know or need a refresher, lymphopenia is the loss of key immune cells such as NK, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. It’s a common but often overlooked condition that is often caused by chemotherapy, radiation, and some immunotherapies. (Read studies here) [4] This depletion can leave your immune defenses wide open to cancer progression, recurrence, and infections.
At the heart of the BioShield™ platform is a therapy called ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept), an IL-15 superagonist. It works by stimulating the body’s natural killer (NK) cells and T cells—immune warriors that are essential for identifying and eliminating cancer cells. It is the first approved therapy to restore lymphocyte levels by activating and expanding NK and T cells—without increasing immunosuppressive T regulatory cells 7. (This info was directly taken from ImmunityBio.com [3])
For too long, conventional cancer treatments have treated the tumor while ignoring the immune system. The BioShield™ platform flips that script by treating not just the tumor, but the underlying immune collapse that allows disease to progress.
How can I know the Cancer BioShield™ Is Working?
First, you need to know about your ALC: absolute lymphocyte count. It’s a number you can find on any standard CBC blood test. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that plays a central role in your immune system, particularly in defending against viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells (like breast cancer).
Studies [5] have shown that low lymphocyte levels (lymphopenia) are associated with shorter survival rates; yet this critical number often gets overlooked.
Lymphocytes include:
- B cells: produce antibodies to neutralize pathogens.
- T cells: regulate immune responses and kill infected or cancerous cells.
- Natural Killer (NK) cells: target virus-infected and tumor cells directly.
BioShield’s effectiveness can be tracked through universally utilized simple complete blood count (CBC): increases in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) reflect ANKTIVA’s lymphocyte-stimulating activity, while reductions in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) demonstrate PD-L1 t-haNK’s immunosuppressive neutrophil targeting. Low ALC and high NLR levels are laboratory measurements that have been extensively reported as predictive biomarkers of poor prognosis with early mortality across all tumor types.
BioShield™ vs. Conventional Immunotherapies
You may have heard of CAR-T therapies or checkpoint inhibitors—two forms of immunotherapy that have gained attention in recent years.
But here’s where BioShield™ stands out:
- It’s holistic. It doesn’t just target one immune pathway; it addresses both innate immunity (via NK cells and macrophages) and adaptive immunity (via T cells and dendritic cells).
- It builds memory. ANKTIVA supports dendritic cell function, which helps your immune system create long-term immune memory against cancer cells—reducing your risk of recurrence.
- It acts as a “shield.” By restoring the immune cells lost during chemo and radiation, BioShield™ helps prevent future cancers from taking hold.
- It collaborates well with treatments. It pairs well with Chemotherapy or Radiation to optimize their capabilities and minimize side effects.
In short, it’s a new generation of cancer care—less about the destruction of cells, more about the regeneration of healthy ones. It’s an upgrade for your immune system that will help your body stay resilient throughout your long, vibrant life.
What This Means for You
If you’re navigating breast cancer—or in remission but still feeling vulnerable—here’s what you can do:
Check Your Lymphocyte Count
Ask your doctor to go over your CBC (Complete Blood Count). Pay special attention to your ALC, and discuss with your doctor and/or coach [6] what the optimal levels for you would be.
Stay Informed on ANKTIVA and BioShield™
While it’s not yet widely available, Expanded Access programs are growing. Consider talking to your oncologist about whether you may qualify.
Support Your Immune System Daily
Even as science advances, your daily choices still matter more than you think! Nourish your immune system with:
[7]
- Whole, organic, plant-based foods. Try some of our delectable recipes [8]!
- Deep, restorative sleep. Click here [9] for sleeping tips.
- Daily movement. Click here [10] to learn more about exercise oncology.
- Intentionally reduce stress. Click here [11] for our top practices.
- Immune-supportive supplements. Immune Complete [7], Probiotics Support [12], and Vitamin D+K [13] are good ones to start with.
- Friends. Connection, support, laughs, and fun times should intentionally be part of your healing journey. Click here [14] to discover why.
Other Safe, Effective, and Minimally Invasive Breast Cancer Treatments
At Breast Cancer Conqueror®, we are all about OPTIONS and helping you make the most empowered and informed decisions possible about your healing journey. Below are a few more therapies to consider:
- Cryoablation: It is a simple, hour-long outpatient procedure that uses liquid nitrogen to deep freeze and destroy cancer tumor cells. Currently, this therapy can be effective at destroying breast cancers measuring 2 cm or smaller. Please learn more about Cryoablation via this blog [15].
- Dendritic Cell Therapy: This therapy helps your immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells. It uses your blood cells and only targets the cancer cells. It can improve the effectiveness of chemo while reducing its side effects. Please learn more about Dendritic Cell Therapy via this blog [16].
- Insulin Potentiated Therapy: This integrative therapy takes advantage of cancer’s obsession with sugar to strategically use the best of conventional treatment and natural healing. In this case, it means that insulin makes the chemotherapy more effective. IPT only requires 10-15% of a normal chemo dose. It works by lowering your blood sugar, then highlighting cancer cells with an additional calculated insulin dose—tricking them into accepting and gobbling up the chemotherapy. Please learn more about Insulin Potentiated Therapy via this blog [17].
- The NanoKnife®: It uses two or more minimally invasive needle electrodes (that look like tiny, thin knives) positioned in the diseased tissue. This gives a physician the ability to sculpt and control cell death in the ablation zone through various electrode configurations for unmatched precision. The whole procedure takes about an hour, and most people recover in 2 days or less. Please learn more about the NanoKnife via this blog [18].
Take Charge of Your Healing
Dr. Soon-Shiong’s BioShield™ platform represents more than a therapy; it’s a paradigm shift. It changes the conversation from “fighting cancer” to fortifying your body.
It perfectly aligns with our mission of the whole person, not just attacking the tumor. This exciting new wave of immune-centered therapies confirms what we’ve known all along: Your body is wise. It wants to heal. You just have to give it the right tools.
And speaking of tools, if you have not taken our on-demand intro course, Conquering Breast Cancer Together: A Balanced Approach to YOUR Healing Journey [19], now is the time!