What Types of Cancer Can Be Treated With Immunotherapy?
The list of cancers that can be treated with immunotherapy continues to grow yearly as new discoveries are made. Immunotherapy is the most cutting-edge area of cancer research, and it treats many types of cancer not listed here. Immunotherapy is effective in treating cancer of the:
- Lymphatic system (lymphoma)
- Kidney
- Liver
- Neck and head
- Brain
- Throat
- Prostate
- Stomach
- Breast
- Cervical
- Bladder
- Colon and rectum
Whether used alone or combined with radiation or chemotherapy, immunotherapy has become a key part of treatment for these and other cancers. If you have questions about immunotherapy, talk to your treatment team.
How Does Immunotherapy Work?
Like chemotherapy, immunotherapy is a broad category that includes some very different treatments. Some common types of immunotherapy include:
Treatment Vaccines
Not actually vaccines against cancer, these treatments boost your immune system’s ability to recognize and respond to cancer cells.
Immune System Modulators
These treatments stimulate the immune system in various ways to make it more effective against cancer.
Monoclonal Antibodies
Lab-produced antibodies are designed to bind to cancer cells, flagging them for the immune system to recognize and attack.
T-Cell Transfer Therapy
This treatment removes T-cells from your body and clones the ones best at fighting your cancer, boosting your immune response.