Immunotherapy

Key points to remember about immunotherapy

• immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells
• immunotherapy treatments are increasing in number and effectiveness in some cancers
• it is best to see immunotherapy treatments as an addition to proven surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments
• they can have unwanted side effects, just as with other forms of cancer treatment

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that promotes or supports your immune system's (infection-fighting system's) response to a disease such as cancer.

How does immunotherapy work?

Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. The immune system is a network of organs, cells and circulating proteins that work to protect the body against disease. The immune system looks for cells that are not normal and tries to destroy them. Immunotherapy can help the immune cells find cancer cells and destroy them.

What are the different types of immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy includes treatments that work in different ways. Some boost the body's immune system in a very general way. Others help train the immune system to attack specific cancer cells.

There are several types of immunotherapy, including:

• immune checkpoint inhibitors
• T-cell transfer therapy
• monoclonal antibodies
• cancer vaccines
• immune system enhancers

For more information about each type of immunotherapy, see the USA National Cancer Institute website

How effective are immunotherapy treatments?

Immunotherapy treatments are increasing in number and effectiveness in some cancers. But, it is best to see them as an addition to proven surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. Because they change the body's own immune system, they can have unwanted side effects, just as with other forms of cancer treatment.

Read more about childhood cancer treatments

Read more about childhood cancer