How does immunotherapy work?

The immune system plays a crucial role in safeguarding the body against various threats, including allergens, viruses, and potentially cancerous cells. Its specialized cells continuously monitor the body for any abnormalities and promptly eliminate damaged or cancerous cells they encounter. This surveillance mechanism prevents the unchecked growth and spread of cancerous tumors. However, cancer cells are adept at evading immune system detection by developing strategies to evade detection. Immunotherapy combats this by:

• Training your immune system so it can do more to find and kill cancer cells.
• Helping your body produce cancer-fighting immune cells that effectively locate and destroy cancer cells.

What cancers does immunotherapy treat?

In the realm of cancer treatment, healthcare providers often prioritize immunotherapy as a frontline option for various metastatic cancers, indicating those that have spread. They frequently integrate immunotherapy with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or alternative cancer treatments. Diverse forms of immunotherapy are employed by providers to address a wide spectrum of cancer types, each leveraging distinct elements of the immune system's capabilities.

What are types of immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy types include:

• Checkpoint inhibitors.
• Adoptive cell therapy (T-cell transfer therapy).
• Monoclonal antibodies.
• Cancer vaccines.
• Immune system modulators.