Immunotherapy, also known as biologic therapy, is a type of cancer treatment that builds up the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer. It uses substances produced inside the body (or outside) to advance or restore the functioning of the body’s immune system. Immunotherapy is undergoing rapid growth and many cancer patients are experiencing noteworthy results from these treatments allowing them to live longer, healthier lives. Immunotherapy may work by:
- Stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells
- Stopping cancer from spreading to other parts of the body
- Helping the immune system work better at destroying cancer cells
There are several types of immunotherapy, including:
- Monoclonal antibodies and tumor-agnostic therapies
- Non-specific immunotherapies
- Oncolytic virus therapy
- T-cell therapy
- Cancer vaccines
