All About Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is treatment that uses a person's own immune system to fight cancer. If your treatment plan includes immunotherapy, knowing how it works and what to expect can often help you prepare for treatment and make informed decisions about your care. Read on to know more.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy uses our immune system to fight cancer. It works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. It can boost or change how the immune system works so it can find and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy is a standard treatment for some types of cancer. You might have immunotherapy on its own or with other cancer treatments. And it is in trials for other types of cancer.

These include monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and vaccines. Some types of immunotherapy are also called targeted treatments or biological therapies. 

Types of Immunotherapy

There are different types of immunotherapy. These include

How does immunotherapywork?

Immunotherapy operates through diverse mechanisms, each designed to trigger, enhance, or guide the immune system’s response against cancer cells. Here is how they work:

• When a damaged or cancerous cell is detected, these immune cells eradicate it, preventing the growth and spread of cancerous tumours.

• Nonetheless, cancer cells are wily, constantly seeking ways to outsmart the immune system's defences.

• Immunotherapy for cancer operates by:

• Educating your immune system to become more proficient at identifying and eradicating cancer cells.

• Assisting your body in generating immune cells specialised in effectively targeting and eliminating cancer cells.

• Immunotherapy cancer treatment is designed to enhance the immune system's role in battling cancer and halt its progression.

What cancers does immunotherapy treat?

Immunotherapy cancer treatment is a standard treatment for specific cancer types. Healthcare providers might operate it in the following ways:

• Before proceeding to alternative treatments

• Independently or in combination with other therapies like chemotherapy

• As an option when other treatments prove ineffective, especially for treatment-resistant cancers

Immunotherapy can treat the following types of cancers:

• Melanoma

• Lung cancer

• Leukaemia

• Lymphoma

• Bladder cancer

• Kidney cancer

• Head and neck cancers

• Liver cancer

• Colon cancer

• Stomach cancer

How do people receive Immunotherapy?

Patients receive immunotherapy for cancer treatment in the following ways:

• Intravenous (IV): Immunotherapy is administered directly into a vein.

• Oral: Immunotherapy is provided in the form of pills or capsules for oral consumption.

• Topical: Immunotherapy is available as a cream applied onto the skin, suitable for early-stage skin cancer treatment.

• Intravesical: Immunotherapy is directly introduced into the bladder.

Can Immunotherapy cure Cancer?

According to studies conducted, immunotherapy has proven successful in addressing 15 types of cancers pertaining to the lungs, head, neck, bladder, kidneys, and Hodgkin lymphoma. However, the effectiveness of Immunotherapy drugs varies across different cancers, with some individuals experiencing more significant benefits than others. While they might be miraculous for certain individuals, they might not yield positive outcomes for everyone. On average, the overall response rates stand at approximately 15-20%.

Immunotherapy cannot cure cancer, but it can help people live longer. Sometimes, it hinders the growth of cancer cells, and in other cases, it can shrink tumours. However, not everyone who receives immunotherapy will notice improvements in their condition.