Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses a person's own immune system to fight diseases, particularly cancer. It works by boosting or modifying the immune system so it can better recognize, attack, and destroy cancer cells

How Immunotherapy Works

• The immune system naturally protects the body from infections and diseases, including cancer. However, cancer cells can evade or suppress the immune response.
• Immunotherapy helps the immune system overcome these barriers by:
  • Enhancing the immune system’s ability to detect cancer cells.
  • Blocking signals that cancer cells use to hide from immune cells.
  • Stimulating immune cells to attack cancer more effectively

Types of Immunotherapy

There are several types of immunotherapy, each working in different ways:

• Monoclonal antibodies: Lab-made proteins that can target specific cancer cells.
• Checkpoint inhibitors: Drugs that block immune checkpoints, preventing cancer cells from turning off immune responses.
• Cancer vaccines: Designed to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells.
• Cytokines: Proteins that boost immune cell activity.
• CAR T-cell therapy: Genetically modifies a patient’s T cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells.
• T-cell transfer therapy: Enhances the natural ability of T cells to fight cancer by selecting or modifying them outside the body before reinfusion

Usage and Effectiveness

• Immunotherapy can be used alone or combined with other treatments like chemotherapy.
• It is a standard treatment for certain types of cancer and is being researched for more applications.
• The suitability of immunotherapy depends on the cancer type, stage, and previous treatments.
• Testing may be required to determine if immunotherapy is likely to be effective for a particular patient

In summary, immunotherapy harnesses and enhances the body's immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells, representing a significant advancement in cancer treatment