Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that works by either activating or suppressing the immune system response to a health crisis. In cancer treatment, immunotherapy works by activating the immune system response to malignant cells. The treatment helps target immune system response to specific cancer cells to destroy them while sparing healthy cells in the body. Some types of immunotherapy are known as biotherapy.

The immune system is a defense system that comprises a group of organs and cells in the body. These work together to protect the body from invasion by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that may make you seriously ill. When an infection hits the body, the immune system sends a response in the form of an inflammation. This inflammation is caused by cellular proteins called interleukins and interferons that send signals to white blood cells which are responsible for defending the body against illnesses.

In the case of cancer patients, it was discovered that certain proteins in cancerous cells blocked the immune system’s ability to identify malignant cells. Thus, the immune system could not work as well as it should because it could not distinguish between healthy body cells and fast-growing malignant cells. This gave rise to research that opened up cancer treatment from immunology.

There are different types of immunotherapies used based on the type of cancer and patient-specific requirement. The standard ones are discussed below:

1. Monoclonal inhibitors

These are man-made antibodies that replicate immune system proteins. They have the ability to target and destroy specific parts of a cancer cell while leaving healthy cells untouched. There are several types of monoclonal antibodies including conjugated monoclonal antibodies and naked monoclonal antibodies. The FDA has approved several monoclonal antibodies as safe to use.

2. Checkpoint inhibitors

Cancer cells may inhibit the checkpoints of the immune system and thus multiply fast. Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that remove the brakes off the human immune system and help identify and target proteins in cancer cells that are to be destroyed.

3. Cancer vaccines

There is still much research that is being put into this form of immunotherapy. A vaccine acts as a stimulant that pushes the immune system into action against a particular disease. Antigen vaccines, whole cells vaccines, and DNA vaccines are some of the types presently under research.

4. CAR T-Cell immunotherapy

Clinical trials are still on for this latest version of immunotherapy. CAR T-Cell immunotherapy has especially shown great efficacy in treating cases of kidney cancer and childhood sarcoma.

Side-effects of immunotherapy

An important question that arises in any patient’s mind when trying out a new form of treatment is: What are the side-effects, if any? Some of the common side-effects of immunotherapy are as follows:

• Constant fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Rashes on the body
• Diarrhea
• Headaches

Some of the more severe side-effects include the ones mentioned below:

• A yellowing of the skin
• Severe hair loss
• Blood in the stools
• Bruising on the skin
• Constant headaches
• Confusion
• Memory loss

In rare cases, patients experience hallucinations. The symptoms should always be reported to the doctor no matter how small or insignificant they may seem at first.

Which type of cancers may be treated with immunotherapy?

Each cancer type is different with a unique set of symptoms. The good news is that immunotherapy may successfully work against all major types of cancers including breast cancer, kidney cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, brain cancer, and stomach cancer, among others.