|
|
|
 |
|
| Immunotherapy |
|
|
Immunotherapy uses your immune system (either boosting your own or using parts of another) to fight cancer. Many future advances against cancer will probably come from this field.
This document explains: the different cells of the immune system and how they normally work to protect you from disease; the different types of immunotherapy (monoclonal antibodies,cancer vaccines, non-specific immunotherapies and adjuvants [immune stimulants]); and the forms of immunotherapy used for specific cancers.
|
|
|
 |
What Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is also called biologic therapy or biotherapy.
Learn how immunotherapy uses certain parts of the immune system to fight disease, including cancer.
|
|
|
What the Immune System Does
The immune system is your body's defense force. Learn how immune system cells and the substances they make circulate through your body to protect it from germs that cause infections, and to some extent from cancer.
|
|
|
The Immune System: Key Players
The response to antigens is a highly coordinated process that
uses the many types of cells of the immune system. Learn about the key types of cells that make up your immune system.
|
|
|
Types of Immunotherapy
Researchers have designed ways to help the immune system recognize cancer cells and strengthen its response so that it will destroy the cancer. Learn about the 2 main types of immunotherapy.
|
|
|
Monoclonal Antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are the most widely used form of cancer immunotherapy at this time. Learn about this type of passive immunotherapy.
|
|
|
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines are active specific immunotherapies. Learn about several types of cancer vaccines now being studied.
|
|
|
|
|
Other Active Specific Immunotherapies
Some forms of active immunotherapy are not considered "vaccines." Learn about other active specific immunotherapies.
|
|
|
Nonspecific Immunotherapies and Adjuvants
Non-specific immunotherapies stimulate the immune system in a very general way, but this may still result in more activity against cancer cells. Learn how non-specific immunotherapies can be used as treatments or as adjuvants.
|
|
|
Clinical Trials
Because they are still fairly new, different forms of immunotherapy must be studied thoroughly to be sure they work and are safe to use. Learn how this is done through the use of carefully controlled research studies that are done with patients.
|
|
|
Immunotherapy for Specific Cancers
The FDA has approved several cancer immunotherapies, while many other immunotherapies have shown promising results and are moving through the testing process in clinical trials. Learn about which immunotherapies are being studied for specific cancers
|
|
|
Additional Resources
Find sources of
patient information and support for immunotherapy.
|
|
|
References
|
|
|
|
|
|
