Discoveries in the biology of immune cells along with their interactions with tumors and infectious organisms have led to groundbreaking advances in care for the treatment of multiple forms of cancer. Several effective therapies that boost the immune system and teach it to recognize as well as mount an attack on the cancerous cells are now available. New promising treatments are also on the horizon.
The goal of immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer is to stimulate a patient’s immune system to recognize cancerous cells and combat the disease. Immunotherapy is designed to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells, help prevent cancer from spreading, and assist the immune system in destroying cancerous cells.
Checkpoint inhibitors exposed the cancer cells to attack by intercepting their signals and allowing the immune system to recognize them as unhealthy cells.
With this therapy, immune cells are armed with new proteins that can recognize and combat particular tumors and forms of cancer.
Genetically modified viruses injected into a tumor ultimately produce antigens, which trigger the immune system to attack the cancer cells.
While preventive vaccines are designed to target specific viruses that can lead to cancer, the intent of a treatment vaccine is to trigger the immune system to attack a particular form of cancer.
Depending on the unique specifics of each case, immunotherapy may produce a variety of side effects. As skilled and compassionate providers of care, our physicians, along with our professional team, discuss all aspects of treatment. Patient care and comfort are our top priorities. We provide supportive care services to reduce side effects and support a patient’s quality of life throughout every step in care.