How Long Does Immunotherapy Work For Liver

Cancer?

Immunotherapy works by using your immune system to fight cancer.

Immunotherapy is a unique type of treatment that’s only used to treat certain types of cancer.
Immunotherapy is also called biotherapy, anti-CTLA-4, or checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
It’s used to treat certain types of liver cancer, including:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Cholangiocarcinoma with liver metastasis
• Metastatic colorectal cancer

When used, immunotherapy may help relieve symptoms of liver cancer and even stop or slow
the growth of liver cancer cells.

Research indicates that immunotherapy may be most effective for people with small, early-stage
liver cancer. But it may also have some benefit for people with larger, more advanced liver
cancer.
How long does immunotherapy take to work?

The process of immunotherapy may take several months before it produces an effect.
You may experience a response as soon as 3 to 6 weeks after the start of treatment.
For example, researchers have found that people with small-stage HCC may see their cancer
shrink or go into remission after 4 weeks of treatment.
If you have liver cancer that doesn’t respond to immunotherapy, you may need to continue
treatment for up to 6 months.
Your doctor may also recommend trying other treatments before moving on to immunotherapy.
These include:

• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
How long do results last?
Immunotherapy results may last for several years.

In most cases, immunotherapy treatment doesn’t produce significant effects for the first 3
months.

However, after the first 3 months, the effects of treatment typically continue for at least another 3
to 6 months.

What are the potential side effects of

immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a safe treatment. But it can cause side effects.

These side effects are usually mild and tend to go away within a few days. However, some
people may experience more serious side effects.

The side effects of immunotherapy can include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Fatigue
 • Fever
• Chills
• Itchiness
• Cough
• Pain in the joints
• Swelling of the liver or spleen
• Bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage)
• Pain in the stomach (gastrointestinal perforation)
• Changes in the blood or bone marrow
• Blood clots (Darah membeku)
• Immune system suppression (cytokine storm)

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor. They can help you manage your treatment.

How is immunotherapy used?

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment. It may be used alone or in combination with other types of
treatment.

Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy if you’re not responding to other treatments for
your liver cancer.

This type of treatment can be done as an injection into your vein or as an infusion into your vein.

Injection treatment is usually done in a hospital or at a treatment center. This type of treatment
may be used to treat early stage HCC.
Your doctor may recommend that you receive immunotherapy through an infusion at the same
time as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

If you’re receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your doctor may recommend that you
continue immunotherapy treatment after you finish your treatment.

Immunotherapy may also be used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer.

This treatment may be done in combination with chemotherapy.

Keep in mind that your cancer may be resistant to chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

This means that your cancer may not be responding to these treatments.

If you’re receiving immunotherapy and you’re not responding well to treatment, your doctor may
recommend surgery to remove your liver.

You may also be a candidate for liver transplantation. This is when your liver is removed,
replaced, and then replaced with a healthy liver.

How effective is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is very effective at treating certain types of liver cancer.

Research suggests that immunotherapy may be more effective in treating:

• Early stage HCC

• Small-stage HCC
 • Metastatic colorectal cancer with liver metastasis

• Metastatic colorectal cancer with no liver metastasis

But immunotherapy may not be effective in treating:

• Large-stage HCC

• Metastatic colorectal cancers without liver metastasis

How is immunotherapy given?

Immunotherapy is given as an injection or infusion.

The type of treatment you may receive is based on your stage, how far your cancer has spread,
and other factors.

Immunotherapy can be given in a hospital or at a treatment center. You’ll receive the

immunotherapy through an IV or an infusion.
Immunotherapy can be given in combination with other treatments. For example, immunotherapy
may be used in conjunction with chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment. It can shrink cancer and make it more difficult for
cancer cells to grow.

If you’re receiving immunotherapy and chemotherapy, you’ll likely receive the treatments at the
same time.

Immunotherapy may be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. This is when the treatment is given
into your vein. Your doctor may recommend that you receive your immunotherapy as an IV
infusion rather than an injection.

You’ll likely receive this type of treatment in a hospital or treatment center.

What’s the outlook for people with liver cancer?

The outlook for people with liver cancer depends on the type, stage, and extent of the cancer.

For example, people with early-stage HCC often have excellent outcomes. However, the 5year
survival rate is only about 5 percent.

Researchers have found that the outlook for people with liver cancer is much better if they’re
treated before liver cancer becomes advanced.

This means that some people may be able to live with liver cancer for years without any
treatment.

However, people who receive treatment at an early stage typically have a very good outlook.

If you’re interested in learning more about your outlook with liver cancer, talk to your doctor.
Can liver cancer be cured?

Liver cancer can’t be cured. However, it can be treated.

Researchers have found that liver cancer tends to be highly treatable when it’s early stage.

Key takeaway
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment. It can be used alone or in combination with other
cancer treatments

There are many types of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is used to treat liver cancer