Immunotherapy is a type of medical treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight

diseases such as cancer. It works by activating or suppressing certain components of the immune
system, such as T cells, B cells, or antibodies to attack specific targets.1
There are several different types of immunotherapies used to fight against cancers; these would
include
 Monoclonal antibodies
These are laboratory made molecules that are designed to target specific proteins on
cancer cells or immune cells. By binding to these proteins, monoclonal antibodies can
block signals that promote cancer growth or activate immune cells to attack cancer cells.2
 Checkpoint inhibitors
These are drugs that target specific proteins on immune cells, such as PD-1 or PD-L1, to
block signals that suppress the immune response against cancer cells. This allows the
immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. Immune
checkpoint inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of several types of cancers
such as Melanoma, Lung, head and neck, bladder, kidney, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.2
See figure 2 below for specific drugs approved for these sites.3

 Adaptive cell Therapy

 These drugs modify a patient’s own immune cells, such as T cells, to specifically target
and destroy cancer cells. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is an
example of an adoptive cell therapy. T cells are genetically engineered to express
receptors that recognize cancer cells, leading to their destruction. CAR-T therapy has
shown great success in treating certain types of blood cancers, such as acute
lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.2

 Cancer Vaccines
These vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer
cells. Some cancer vaccines are made from cancer cells, while others are made from
substances that mimic cancer cells.2
 Cytokines
These are proteins that are naturally produced by the immune system to regulate immune
responses. These therapies involve giving patients high doses of these proteins to
stimulate their immune system to attack cancer cells.2
 Immune Checkpoint Blockade
These block the activity of inhibitory proteins that prevent immune cells from attacking
cancer cells. By inhibiting these proteins, immune checkpoint blockade can enhance the
immune response again cancer.2
Although immunotherapy has made great strides in cancer death is does come without
limitations and side effects. While some patients may respond well, not all patients benefit from
it, and it may not be suitable for all cancers. Immunotherapy can also cause adverse effects, such
as inflammation of organs/tissues, fever, chills, weakness, dizziness, nausea, muscle aches,
fatigue, headaches, trouble breathing, blood pressure issues, weight gain, or heart palpitations.
Careful monitoring and management is required during treatments.4

1. American Cancer Society. How immunotherapy is used to treat cancer.

Cancer.org. Published 2015. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-
side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/what-is-immunotherapy.html
Accessed April 18, 2003
2. Immunotherapy for Cancer - National Cancer Institute. www.cancer.gov.
Published April 29, 2015.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy#which-
cancers-are-treated-with-immunotherapy Accessed April 18, 2003
3. Vaddepally RK, Kharel P, Pandey R, Garje R, Chandra AB. Review of
Indications of FDA-Approved Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors per NCCN
Guidelines with the Level of Evidence. Cancers. 2020;12(3):738.
doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12030738 Accessed April 18, 2003
4. National Cancer institute. Side Effects of Immunotherapy - National Cancer
Institute. www.cancer.gov. Published September 24, 2019.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/side-effects
Accessed April 18, 2003