What is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. The immune system helps your body fight infections and other diseases. It is made up of white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy. Biological therapy is a type of treatment that uses substances made from living organisms to treat cancer.
How Does Immunotherapy Work?
Immunotherapy works by boosting the natural defenses of your
immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It can work in several ways: by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, stopping cancer from spreading to other parts of the body, and helping the immune system work better at destroying cancer cells.
Types of Immunotherapy Drugs
There are several types of immunotherapy drugs used to treat cancer: Monoclonal Antibodies: These are drugs that are designed to bind to specific targets on cancer cells. Some monoclonal antibodies mark cancer cells so that they will be better seen and destroyed by the immune system.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: These drugs take the 'brakes' off the immune system, which helps it recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer Vaccines: These are substances introduced into the body to start an immune response against certain diseases, including cancer.
Adoptive Cell Transfer: This treatment boosts the natural ability of your T cells to fight cancer. In this treatment, T cells are taken from your tumor. These T cells are then modified and grown in the lab, and injected back into your body.
Cytokines: These are proteins made by your body’s cells. They play important roles in the immune system and can affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body’s immune and inflammation responses.
What Are the Side Effects of Immunotherapy?
Like other cancer treatments, immunotherapy can cause side effects. The side effects are often related to the stimulation of your immune system and can range from mild to severe. Common side effects include:
Fatigue
Fever
Chills
Nausea
Rash
Loss of appetite
Some side effects can be serious or life-threatening. The side effects depend on the type of immunotherapy, the type and location of the cancer, and the overall health of the patient.
How Effective is Immunotherapy?
The effectiveness of immunotherapy can vary. Some people respond very well to immunotherapy and have long-lasting responses, while others may not respond at all. The type of cancer, the stage of the disease, and other factors influence the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Ongoing research and clinical trials are continually improving and expanding the use of immunotherapy in cancer treatment.
Intravenous (IV): Directly into a vein
Oral: As a pill or capsule
Topical: Applied to the skin
Intravesical: Directly into the bladder
The method of administration depends on the type of cancer, the type of immunotherapy, and the patient's overall condition.
Future of Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment
The future of
immunotherapy is promising. Researchers are studying new immunotherapy treatments and combinations of treatments to see how they can best help people with cancer. The goal is to develop more effective treatments with fewer side effects, making it a cornerstone of cancer therapy in the coming years.
