What Types of Cancer Can Be Treated with Immunotherapy?

Do you need more information about immunotherapy and options for immunotherapy cancer treatment? Immunotherapy can be an effective method of fighting many cancers, and it continues to develop and grow in usage with further research and testing. Here, we’ll take a look at what immunotherapy does and at some of the cancers it can treat.

It is important to note that this is an emerging field. Before receiving treatment or discussing various therapies with your doctor, ensure the product or therapy is FDA approved. The FDA keeps a list of approved, licensed stem cell products on its website, along with important information for consumers. The Cancer Research Institute maintains a list of FDA approved immunotherapies.

Once you are assured that your clinic is operating with FDA guidance and using approved treatments, here are some of the therapies you can discuss with your doctor.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy cancer treatment is growing increasingly common and can be applied to a variety of cancer types. Immunotherapy is a method of boosting your immune system against cancer by training it to better detect and respond to abnormal cells. This treatment is created through natural substances and parts that can already be found in your body, putting it into the category of biological cancer therapy.

Brain Cancer

Immunotherapy cancer treatment can be used to combat brain cancer, and researchers are continuing to expand on their knowledge and their practice of these methods. Many scientists hope that immunotherapy will be an extremely effective solution for eliminating brain cancer as they gain more insight and development for these treatments.

Bladder Cancer

Immunotherapy cancer treatments for bladder cancer already have gained significant traction in the medical community, with several methods of treatment already approved in North America. Targeted antibodies, immune system modulators, and vaccines are all methods of immunotherapy which can be used today against bladder cancer, and all of which help your body better defend you from cancer cells.

Cervical Cancer

There are a few immunotherapy cancer treatments for cervical cancer, with vaccines being the most common method of treatment. Although radiation and chemotherapy are the most common courses of treatment for cervical cancer, doctors may decide to employ immunotherapy in certain cases.

Prostate Cancer

Immunotherapy cancer treatment isn’t as common for prostate cancer; however, it can be used in advanced stages when necessary. Both a cancer vaccine and a checkpoint inhibitor are available in North America, although doctors typically prefer other methods of treatment for prostate cancer that is in its early stages.

Breast Cancer

Doctors didn’t always believe that breast cancer was a candidate for immunotherapy; however, new breakthroughs in immunotherapy cancer treatment have revealed that it’s actually quite beneficial for some people who produce an excess of the HER2 protein receptor because targeted antibodies can use this link as a focal point. There continues to be development in this area of study, and approval for options, such as checkpoint inhibitors, has been gained in recent years.

Major Organ Cancers

Immunotherapy cancer treatment often proves an effective option against a variety of cancers in major organs, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, and skin. Immunotherapy has proved immensely beneficial in several of these cases, and the targeted antibodies sometimes outperform more common methods of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy. Researchers feel that immunotherapy holds a lot of promise for cancers that impact these organs, and F.D.A. approvals are being gained for a multitude more of immunotherapies as development continues.

Overall, immunotherapy cancer treatment can be a suitable option for various cancer types, including breast cancer, brain cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and cancers affecting major organs.

Click here to learn more, and visit http://clinicaltrials.gov/ for a list of where to find current studies and trials happening worldwide.

Reviewed by Paul V. Holland, MD