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Immunotherapy harnesses the body’s natural immune system to identify and destroy cancerous cells. It encompasses a range of treatments, some designed to enhance the immune system’s overall effectiveness and others tailored to target specific cancerous cells within tumors.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a pivotal immunotherapy approach. These treatments help the immune system combat cancers like lung cancer and melanoma by blocking certain proteins that prevent T cells (a type of immune cell) from attacking cancer cells effectively.
Alternate Names: Monoclonal Antibodies
Body Location: Immune System
Procedure Type: Intravenous Administration
Before beginning treatment, patients should follow these guidelines:
Checkpoint inhibitors work by targeting specific proteins on T cells, the immune system’s disease-fighting cells. In a healthy body, these proteins help regulate T cell activity—turning them on to attack infections and turning them off to prevent damage to healthy cells. However, some cancers exploit this system by producing proteins that deactivate T cells, allowing the cancer to grow unchecked.
Checkpoint inhibitors block these proteins, reactivating T cells to attack and destroy cancerous cells.
Treatment Details:
After undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy:
Common Post-Treatment Concerns:
Immune checkpoint inhibitor sessions are outpatient procedures. After treatment:
Common Side Effects:
Rare but Serious Risks:
Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, represents a groundbreaking advancement in cancer treatment, empowering the body’s natural defenses to fight back against cancerous cells. Patients are encouraged to maintain open communication with their healthcare teams to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.