Immunotherapy

 Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that harnesses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. It includes a variety of treatment methods such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, T-cell transfer therapy, monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, and immune system modulators.

CAR T-cell Therapy

Types of Immunotherapy

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-created molecules designed to mimic the immune system's ability to fight off harmful pathogens. Some of these antibodies are designed to attach themselves to specific proteins on cancer cells, thereby marking them for destruction by the immune system.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

These types of drugs essentially take the 'brakes' off the immune system, enabling it to recognize and attack cancer cells. Notable checkpoint inhibitors target PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 pathways.

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer vaccines are substances introduced into the body to provoke an immune response against certain diseases. Unlike traditional vaccines, cancer vaccines are usually given after a person has been diagnosed with cancer.

T-Cell Transfer Therapy

This involves modifying a patient's T cells in a lab to improve their ability to recognize and attack cancer cells. One type of this therapy is CAR-T cell therapy, where T cells are modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) on their surface.

Immune System Modulators

These are drugs that enhance the body's immune response against cancer. They include interferons and interleukins, which can affect the behavior of immune cells.

Applications

Immunotherapy has shown effectiveness in treating a wide variety of cancers, including lung cancer, melanoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and certain types of colorectal cancer. Its use is being studied in many other types of cancer as well.

Side Effects

Side effects of immunotherapy can include flu-like symptoms, skin reactions, and in some cases, more severe reactions like autoimmune disorders.

Research and Development

Research into new and more effective forms of immunotherapy is ongoing, and many clinical trials are in progress to study the effectiveness of these treatments in a wide variety of cancer types.

See Also

• Oncology
• Cancer
• CAR-T cell therapy
• PD-1 inhibitor

References

• American Cancer Society. (2023). What Is Cancer Immunotherapy? Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy.html
• Cancer Research Institute. (2023). Cancer Immunotherapy. Retrieved from
• National Cancer Institute. (2023). Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy