Also known as cancer immunotherapy, it is a branch of medicine that focuses on utilizing the body’s immune system to fight cancer. IO treatments can enhance the immune response against cancer cells, leading to better tumor control and sometimes even complete remission.
These are drugs that block certain proteins on immune cells or cancer cells, allowing the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. Examples include drugs targeting PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4.
CAR-T cell therapy involves modifying a patient’s own immune cells (T cells) to better recognize and kill cancer cells. This personalized treatment has shown remarkable success in treating certain types of blood cancers.
The tumor microenvironment refers to the cellular environment in and around a tumor, including immune cells, blood vessels, and supporting tissues. Immuno-oncology therapies often target components of the tumor microenvironment to enhance anti-cancer immune responses.
Neoantigens are abnormal proteins produced by cancer cells as a result of mutations. These proteins can be recognized by the immune system as foreign, making them potential targets for immunotherapy.
ACT is a type of immunotherapy that involves extracting immune cells from a patient, modifying them to enhance their anti-cancer activity, and then reintroducing them into the patient’s body to target and kill cancer cells.
Cytokines are signaling molecules produced by immune cells that regulate immune responses. Some cytokines, such as interleukins and interferons, are used as immunotherapy to stimulate the immune system’s anti-cancer activity.
Immune checkpoints are molecules on immune cells that regulate the intensity and duration of immune responses. Cancer cells often exploit these checkpoints to evade immune detection. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block these checkpoints, allowing the immune system to mount a stronger response against cancer.
Biomarkers are measurable indicators of biological processes or disease states. In immuno-oncology, biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor mutational burden are used to predict a patient’s response to immunotherapy and guide treatment decisions.
Combination therapy involves using two or more treatments together to enhance their effectiveness. In immuno-oncology, combination approaches may include combining different types of immunotherapy, traditional cancer treatments (such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy), or targeted therapies to achieve better outcomes for patients.