Immunotherapy
What is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that relies on the patient's immune system to combat the disease. Immunotherapy can help the immune system discover and fight cancer cells by boosting or changing how it works.
If Immunotherapy is a part of your treatment plan, understanding how it works and what to expect can help you prepare for treatment and help make educated decisions about your care.
How does Immunotherapy work against Cancer?
The immune system is constantly at work, finding and destroying unusual cells in the body. This helps prevent or slow down the growth of many cancers. Sometimes, immune cells can even be found inside or around tumors, showing that the immune system is trying to fight the cancer.
One special group of immune cells, called TILs (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes), shows that the immune system is responding to the tumor. People who have TILs in their tumors usually have a better chance of survival compared to those who don’t.
Even though the immune system can stop or slow cancer, cancer cells can develop ways to hide from or block the immune system. Some cancer cells change their genes to become less visible, while others have special proteins on their surface that tell immune cells to "turn off."
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer more effectively. It works by changing the normal cells around the tumor to help the immune system recognize and attack the cancer cells.
The basics of the immune system, immunotherapy, and cancer
Types of Immunotherapies:
- Checkpoint inhibitors block cancer cell signals from tricking the immune system into believing they're healthy cells. This exposes them to immune system attack.
- Cytokines can modulate the host immune response toward cancer cells, as well as directly induce tumor cell death. They can be synthesized in a laboratory and injected into the body at much higher doses than naturally produced.
- Cancer vaccines stimulate the immune system to attack the cancer cells in a particular body area.
How is Immunotherapy given?
There are different ways to give Immunotherapy, depending on the type of treatment and where the cancer is. Here are some common methods:
- Intravenous (IV) Immunotherapy: This type is delivered directly into a vein through an IV.
- Orally: Immunotherapy can also be taken by mouth, in the form of a pill or capsule.
- Intravesical Immunotherapy: This method delivers the treatment directly into the bladder, which is used for bladder cancer.
- Topically: Immunotherapy can be applied as a cream on the skin. This method is often used to treat early-stage skin cancer.
What are the side effects of Immunotherapy?
- Fatigue
- Fever and chills
- Skin reactions like rashes or itching
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Losing your appetite
- Muscle or joint pain
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Low or high blood pressure
Less common but more serious side effects:
- Swelling or inflammation of important organs, including:
- Liver (hepatitis)
- Colon (colitis)
- Lungs (pneumonitis)
- Brain (meningitis or encephalitis)
- Heart (myocarditis)
- Problems with hormone-producing organs, like the thyroid.
- Issues with the kidneys.
- Eye problems like blurry vision or pain in the eyes.
Important things to know:
The side effects depend on the type of immunotherapy and can vary from person to person.
Most side effects are mild, but some can be very serious or even life-threatening (though this is rare).
Some types of immunotherapy have more side effects than others.
The chance of a life-threatening side effect from immunotherapy is small, ranging from 0.3% to 1.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
The type of cancer and its stage can influence how often and long a patient receives Immunotherapy. Some forms of Immunotherapy are administered in a cycle, which entails a treatment period followed by rest. The time off allows the body to recover, respond to Immunotherapy, and regenerate new healthy cells.
The success rate varies widely depending on the type of cancer, the stage, and the individual patient. Some cancers respond very well, while others may not.
Unlike chemotherapy, which directly kills cancer cells, immunotherapy boosts the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. It often has different side effects and can be more targeted.
Most insurance plans cover immunotherapy when it's deemed medically necessary, especially for cancers that have FDA-approved immunotherapy options.
