Immunotherapy is a modern way to treat cancer by utilizing the immune system as a powerful way to destroy cancer cells and control the progression of the disease. Cancer immunology is recognized in several types, and doctors may recommend it as a sole cancer treatment, or in collaboration with more traditional cancer treatments (i.e., chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery).

These are the main immunotherapy treatments used for treating cancer:

1. Checkpoint inhibitors of the immune cells

This type of immunotherapy is typically used to treat melanoma or skin cancer, as well as kidney and bladder cancers. There is a protein produced to control the activity of the T lymphocytes within the immune system, and so cancer can occur when this protein is produced in an excess, essentially hindering the activity of the immune cells that act against cancer. However, by administering checkpoint inhibitor therapy, this protein is blocked and the T cells retains function and kill cancer. of the T cells is retained.

2. Cytokines

Cytokines are sometimes used to treat cancers, like melanoma. Cytokines are chemicals specifically produced by the immune cells. They function by signaling the immune system to work appropriately. Lymphoma is cancer where the immune cells, particularly the lymphocytes, become infected. Cytokines are effective to treat two types of lymphoma. The cutaneous T-cell lymphoma can be treated if the cancer cells are present underneath the skin. Through this therapy, even the most common form of lymphoma cancer or the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be cured.

3. Interleukins

Interleukins are a type of cytokines. These are naturally present in the body. As the body is affected with cancer, the function of the immune cells is lost. Through the administration of interleukins from the outside, the division of the immune cells is made faster. These are effective to treat kidney carcinoma.

4. Interferons

The interferons are chemical messengers that signal the cancer cells to stop multiplying. They are a type of cytokines naturally produced within the body. The interferon most commonly used is the interferon alpha. It can be injected subcutaneously or by infusing it to the bloodstream. Commonly, it is given thrice per week for effective result. They are effective to treat the two forms of leukemia. The cancer of the hairy cells is one type of cancer that can be treated with this therapy. The chronic myelogenous leukemia is a type that targets the bone marrow from where the stem cells of the immune system are present. This is a slow progressing type of leukemia.

5. Monoclonal antibodies

If the immune system is weak enough to recognize the cancer cells, doctors may prefer monoclonal antibodies. In this therapy, the cells of the immune system are marked for easy detection and killing of the cancer cells. They are effective in treating the follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.

6. CAR T-cell treatment

This is a form of cancer treatment where the WBCs are reprogrammed to target the carcinoma cells. It is effective in treating lymphoblastic leukemia and the lymphoma of the B-cells.

7. Cancer vaccines

This is a newer concept where cancer can be prevented through vaccination. The diseases that can be vaccinated include HPV, liver cancer through Hepatitis B, etc.