Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. The immune system is responsible for identifying and destroying abnormal cells in the body, including cancer cells. Immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells more effectively or by introducing engineered immune cells that can recognize and kill cancer cells.

There are several types of immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and immune system modulators. Checkpoint inhibitors work by blocking the proteins that cancer cells use to evade detection by the immune system, while CAR-T cell therapy involves genetically modifying a patient's own immune cells to specifically target and destroy cancer cells. Cancer vaccines work by introducing a small piece of the cancer cell to the immune system, training it to recognize and attack cancer cells, and immune system modulators help to enhance the overall immune response.

Immunotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of various types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer, among others. However, like all cancer treatments, it may not work for everyone and can cause side effects. It's important to talk to your doctor about whether immunotherapy is right for you and what potential risks and benefits may be involved.