What Is Immunotherapy?
Cancer immunotherapy is a form of targeted treatment that utilises the body’s immune system to eliminate cancer cells.
Immunotherapy particularly the checkpoint inhibitors are mainly used in advanced cancers as first-line treatment or subsequent line in patients that have failed prior treatments. It can be given alone or in combination with other cancer treatments. Immunotherapy can be used to treat many cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, urothelial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, triple negative breast cancer and melanoma.
The therapeutic effect of immunotherapy can persist even after treatment has ceased.
Content by Dr. Ina Shaliny A/P Duraisamy, Consultant Oncologist.