Biotherapy

Biotherapy (also known as biological therapy or immunotherapy) is a form of treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight diseases such as cancer. The therapy can be used to boost or restore the natural defenses of the immune system, direct the immune system to fight cancer cells, or influence the behavior of cancer cells to control their growth.

Types of Biotherapy

Biotherapy can be classified into several types, including Immunotherapy, Monoclonal antibodies, Cancer vaccines, Non-specific immunotherapies, and Oncolytic virus therapy.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of biotherapy that boosts the body's immune system to fight cancer. It can be either active, passive, or adoptive. Active immunotherapy stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells, while passive immunotherapy uses immune system components created in the laboratory. Adoptive immunotherapy involves modifying a patient's immune cells to make them more effective in attacking cancer cells.

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that can bind to specific targets on cancer cells. They can be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to cancer cells.

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer vaccines are substances introduced into the body to stimulate an immune response against cancer cells. They can be made from the patient's tumor cells or from substances produced by tumor cells.

Non-specific Immunotherapies

Non-specific immunotherapies can boost the immune system in a general way, which can still help the immune system attack cancer cells.

Oncolytic Virus Therapy

Oncolytic virus therapy involves using a virus that specifically kills cancer cells. Some oncolytic viruses are naturally occurring, while others are made in a laboratory by modifying normal viruses.

Applications

Biotherapy has been used to treat a variety of cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and head and neck cancers. It is also being studied for use in treating other types of cancer.

Side Effects

Like all treatments, biotherapy can cause side effects, which can vary depending on the specific type of biotherapy used. Common side effects include fatigue, fever, chills, weakness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and breathlessness.

See Also

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy