Immunotherapy is a modern approach to treating cancer that strengthens the body's inherent ability to combat the disease. Unlike approaches that directly attack cancer cells, immunotherapy aids the immune system in recognizing and eradicating them more efficiently. This approach is particularly beneficial for cancers that don't respond well to conventional therapies.
Several kinds of immunotherapy exist, encompassing checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and cancer vaccines. These therapies function through diverse mechanisms—some amplify the immune system's general reaction, whereas others focus on specific processes cancer uses to evade discovery.
Immunotherapy is employed to manage various cancers like melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and certain blood cancers. Although it might not prove effective for every individual, it has yielded significant results in numerous patients and frequently leads to fewer adverse effects in comparison to chemotherapy.