Immunotherapy

Before starting immunotherapy, you will meet with your oncologist to review your diagnosis, treatment goals, and eligibility. You may undergo lab tests or imaging to assess your overall health and prepare for therapy.

Immunotherapy is typically administered through an IV infusion, though some treatments may be given orally or by injection. Sessions may last a few hours, and you will be closely monitored for any reactions. Depending on your treatment plan, immunotherapy may be combined with other therapies like chemotherapy or radiation. 

After treatment, you may experience mild side effects such as fatigue, fever, or skin changes. Your care team will schedule follow-up visits to monitor your response and manage your symptoms. Recovery varies by individual, but many patients return to normal activities shortly after treatment. Long-term monitoring helps track progress and detect recurrence early.  

Immunotherapy is used for many types of cancers, including:  

• Bladder cancer
• Brain cancer
• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Childhood cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia  
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Lymphoma
• Melanoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Sarcoma
• Skin cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Uterine cancer  

Most immunotherapy treatments fall into five primary categories:

Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are lab engineered molecules designed to target specific antigens, proteins found on the surface of cancer cells. These antigens act like flags that help identify cancer cells. In a lab setting, scientists can create antibodies that bind precisely to these proteins. Once attached, the antibody can interfere with the cancer cell’s ability to grow or spread, or it can mark the cell for destruction by the immune system.  

One specialized type of monoclonal antibody is the immune checkpoint inhibitor. These antibodies block the signals that cancer cells use to avoid detection by the immune system. By disrupting this defense mechanism, checkpoint inhibitors help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.  

Adoptive cell therapy  

Unlike monoclonal antibodies, which are lab-made proteins designed to target cancer cells, adoptive cell therapy uses the patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer. In this approach, lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) are sourced directly from the patient, then multiplied in the lab and — when needed — genetically modified to boost their ability to fight cancer. These enhanced cells are reintroduced into the patient’s body to help mount a stronger immune response.  

A well-known form of adoptive cell therapy is chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T). This personalized treatment involves removing a patient’s T-cells, genetically reprogramming them to recognize specific cancer antigens, and infusing them back into the body. Once inside, these engineered cells seek out and destroy cancer cells, often as a one-time treatment.  

Cancer vaccines  

While most vaccines are designed to prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are given after a cancer diagnosis to increase the body’s ability to fight and limit the spread of cancer cells. Cancer vaccines represent another form of immunotherapy.  

Some, like peptide vaccines, stimulate an immune response against proteins commonly found on cancer cells. Others, like dendritic cell vaccines, involve extracting dendritic cells (immune cells that regulate the body’s immune responses) and programming them to recognize cancer-specific proteins. Vaccines may be personalized, using tissue from a patient’s own tumor to create a treatment uniquely suited to their immune system.  

Non-specific immunotherapies (cytokines)

Not all immunotherapies target cancer cells directly. Non-specific immunotherapies, such as cytokines (small proteins), work by enhancing the immune system’s ability to respond to threats. Cytokines like interleukins and interferons activate various immune cells, which can help fight infections and cancer.  

These therapies are often used in combination with other treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, but they can also be administered on their own. By boosting overall immune activity, cytokines help create a more hostile environment for cancer cells.  

T-cell promoters  

Some immunotherapy drugs focus on restoring or enhancing T-cell (cells that are a part of the immune system) activity, which is crucial for attacking cancer cells. These drugs work by blocking the mechanisms that tumors use to evade immune detection. For example, PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors prevent cancer cells from turning off T-cells, allowing the immune system to stay active against the tumor.  

Another drug, ipilimumab, works by blocking the CTLA-4 protein on immune cells, allowing the body’s immune system to better recognize and attack cancer cells. These therapies are often used in combination with other immunotherapies to maximize their effectiveness.  

Immunotherapy offers many potential benefits:  

• Improves the survival rate of many cancer types
• Destroys tumors and prevents them returning  
• Prevents cancer spread
• Stimulates your immune system, so it fights cancer even after stopping treatment  
• Causes side effects that are less severe than traditional cancer treatments  

Before starting immunotherapy, you will meet with your oncologist to review your diagnosis, treatment goals, and eligibility. You may undergo lab tests or imaging to assess your overall health and prepare for therapy.

Immunotherapy is typically administered through an IV infusion, though some treatments may be given orally or by injection. Sessions may last a few hours, and you will be closely monitored for any reactions. Depending on your treatment plan, immunotherapy may be combined with other therapies like chemotherapy or radiation. 

After treatment, you may experience mild side effects such as fatigue, fever, or skin changes. Your care team will schedule follow-up visits to monitor your response and manage your symptoms. Recovery varies by individual, but many patients return to normal activities shortly after treatment. Long-term monitoring helps track progress and detect recurrence early.