Immunotherapy
Specialty of Medical oncology
What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy, also called biological therapy, biotherapy or biological response modifying therapy (BRM therapy), is a set of treatment techniques that boost the body’s natural defences-the immune system to fight cancer and certain infections. Some immunotherapy treatments boost the immune system overall, while others try to teach it to attack specific types of cells found in tumours. Treatments include the administration of vaccines, creams, tablets and the use of monoclonal antibodies (these are a type of protein that can attach to cancer cells in the body).
What is immunotherapy used for?
Immunotherapy is used to strengthen the immune system to help it fight cancer and side effects of cancer treatments. It can also be used to combat allergies. Allergy shots, also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy can alter the immune system and prevent the development of new allergies.
What does immunotherapy involve?
Treatment uses substances produced by living organisms or substances made in a laboratory. It can be administered in several ways:
- Intravenous (IV): An injection is administered directly into a vein.
- Oral: in capsule or tablet form to ingest.
- Topical: Application of a cream on the skin to fight cancer in its initial stages.
- Intravesical: This is an injection administered directly into the bladder to help tackle bladder cancer.
How long does treatment last?
This can depend on a number of factors, including:
- The type of cancer and how advanced it is.
- The type of immunotherapy taken.
- How the patient reacts to the treatment.
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For women who have triple negative breast cancer, a new treatment drug has just become available to prescribe to treat the disease alongside chemotherapy. Read more from our expert medical oncologist Dr Mark Tuthill on immunotherapy medication. See more
Immunotherapy: a guide to the medications in cancer treatment
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Immunotherapy treatments have revolutionised the treatment of many different cancers from those of the breast, lung, bladder to kidney. We've asked expert medical oncologist Dr Mark Tuthill to explain how cancer develops and how immunotherapy is much better tolerated than chemotherapy as treatment. See more
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When the body's immune system fails to detect cancer cells, this enables them to grow into a tumour. Medical therapies known as immunotherapy can help the immune system attack cancer that has developed. Read more from medical oncologist Dr Mark Tuthill on how the treatment works exactly. See more
Immunotherapy and cancer: what are the side effects?
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As with any treatment procedure, one of the first things that a patient will question is whether there are any side effects to the medication, and if so, what? We've asked consultant medical oncologist Dr Mark Tuthill to explain the side effects of the medications used in immunotherapy for cancer. See more
Experts in
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Dr Mark Tuthill
Medical oncologyExpert in:
- Immunotherapy
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Testicular cancer