Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that stimulates the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. This method uses a variety of approaches, including antibodies, vaccines, or other immune modulators, to boost the body's natural ability to fight cancer.
Immunotherapy can be administered by injection, orally, intravenously, or directly into the tumor, and its ability to specifically target cancer cells makes it particularly useful for reducing side effects compared to traditional treatment methods.

Immunotherapy for breast cancer

Immunotherapy uses the body's natural defences to fight cancer by improving the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells. The following drug, which is a type of immunotherapy called an immune checCPoint inhibitor, is used to treat high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer.

Pembrolizumab

It is a type of immunotherapy that is approved for the treatment of high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer in combination with chemotherapy before surgery. It is continued with 9 doses after surgery.

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy for non-metastatic breast cancer

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is treatment given before surgery to shrink a large tumor and/or reduce the risk of recurrence. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and/or targeted therapy may be given as neoadjuvant treatment for people with certain types of breast cancer.

Immunotherapy for cervical cancer

The immune system protects the body from disease and infection. Immunotherapies are treatments that use the immune system to detect and attack cancer cells. Nivolumab (Opdivo®) and ipilimumab (YERVOY®) are immunotherapy drugs that can be used to treat cervical cancer.

Immunotherapy for lung cancer

Immunotherapy and targeted therapy drugs are used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread outside the lung or to other parts of the body.
They are not commonly used for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Sometimes a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy may be given for SCLC.
Immunotherapy drugs use the immune system to detect and attack cancer cells. Drugs approved for use include:

• Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®)
• Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®)
• Durvalumab (Imfinzi®)
• Nivolumab (Opdivo®)

These drugs aim to block a protein (receptor) called PD-1 on the surface of T cells, which are part of the immune system. They also block another protein called PD-L1. By blocking PD-1 or PD-L1, these drugs help the immune system detect and attack cancer cells.

How are immunotherapy drugs administered?

These drugs are obtained by intravenous infusion. You may take these immunotherapy drugs for a longer time if they control the cancer. But if you develop certain side effects, treatment may need to be stopped. New immunotherapy drugs are also being developed.

Immunotherapy for ovarian cancer

Immunotherapy uses the body's natural defenses to fight cancer by improving the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells.
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and dotarlimab (Jemperli) are a type of immunotherapy called immune checCPoint inhibitors. They work by stopping cancer cells' ability to stop the immune system from activating, which helps the immune system destroy cancer cells.

Immunotherapy for colon cancer

Immunotherapy is treatment with drugs that help the body's immune system destroy cancer cells. The immune system fights disease by attacking germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system through various mechanisms. Immunotherapy helps immune system cells detect and kill cancer cells despite this.
Immunotherapy is usually given to individuals with advanced colon cancer.