Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment which uses your immune system to fight cancer. It is a type of systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT). It works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. Some types of immunotherapy are also called targeted treatments or biological therapies. 

You might have immunotherapy on its own or with other cancer treatments. There are different types of immunotherapy treatments.

Our immune system works to protect the body against infection, illness and disease. It can also protect us from the cancer cells developing in the body. 

There are different types of immunotherapy as cancer treatments do not always fit easily into a certain category of treatment.

Drugs and treatments can work in more than one way and therefore belongs to a different treatment group. This may mean you hear the same drug or treatment called different things.

Different types of immunotherapy use the immune system in a different way. Types of immunotherapy include:

• Immune system modulators
• Monoclonal antibodies (MABs)
• Checkpoint inhibitors
• Vaccines to treat cancer
• Cytokines
• CAR T-cell therapy

Some of these types of immunotherapy are available at The Christie. If they're suitable for your disease group or stage of cancer, your consultant will discuss this with you.