Immunotherapy

There are various types of Immunotherapy, each designed to target different aspects of the immune system and cancer cells. Some common approaches include:

1. Checkpoint Inhibitors: Cancer cells can sometimes evade the immune system by expressing certain proteins known as checkpoints. Checkpoint inhibitors block these proteins, allowing the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
2. CAR T-cell Therapy: This personalized treatment involves collecting a patient’s T-cells (a type of immune cell) and genetically engineering them to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These modified T-cells are then infused back into the patient’s body, enabling them to target and destroy cancer cells more efficiently.
3. Cytokines: These are naturally occurring proteins that regulate the immune system. Immunotherapy can involve the administration of specific cytokines to strengthen the body’s ability to fight cancer.
4. Cancer Vaccines: Unlike preventive vaccines, cancer vaccines stimulate the immune system to target existing cancer cells. These vaccines can be based on cancer cell fragments, specific proteins, or genetically modified cancer cells.
5. Monoclonal Antibodies: These are laboratory-produced antibodies that can recognize and target specific proteins on cancer cells, marking them for destruction by the immune system.