Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer. It can also be used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and allergies. Immunotherapy works by stimulating or enhancing the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer or other harmful cells.
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that are designed to mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful cells. They can be used in immunotherapy to target specific proteins on cancer cells, helping to stop their growth or destroy them.
Checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that work by blocking proteins called checkpoints on immune cells. These checkpoints normally act as brakes on the immune system, preventing it from attacking healthy cells. By blocking these checkpoints, checkpoint inhibitors can help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that involves genetically modifying a patient’s T cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune response. In CAR-T cell therapy, T cells are engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target specific proteins on cancer cells.
Cytokines are small proteins that are produced by various cells in the immune system and play a key role in regulating immune responses. Some cytokines, such as interleukins and interferons, can be immunotherapy to boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer.
Adoptive cell transfer is a type of immunotherapy that involves collecting and modifying immune cells, such as T cells, from a patient and then transferring them back into the patient’s body to help fight cancer. This approach can be used in combination with other immunotherapies to enhance their effectiveness.
Immune checkpoints are proteins on immune cells that act as regulators of the immune response. They help prevent the immune system from attacking healthy cells by inhibiting immune responses. Cancer cells can sometimes exploit these checkpoints to evade detection by the immune system, leading to unchecked growth. Immunotherapies that target immune checkpoints can help restore the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells.
The tumor microenvironment refers to the cellular environment surrounding a tumor, including immune cells, blood vessels, and other supporting structures. The interactions between cancer cells and the cells in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in cancer progression and response to treatment, including immunotherapy.
The immune response is the body’s natural defense mechanism against foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. It involves the coordinated actions of various cells and molecules in the immune system to identify and eliminate harmful substances. Immunotherapies work by harnessing or enhancing the immune response to target and destroy cancer cells.
Immune-related adverse events are side effects that can occur as a result of immunotherapy treatment. Because immunotherapies work by stimulating the immune system, they can sometimes cause the immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs in addition to cancer cells. Common irAEs include skin rash, diarrhea, and inflammation of the lungs or other organs. Prompt recognition and management of irAEs are important for minimizing their impact on patients undergoing immunotherapy.