Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapies
Understanding Advanced Cancer Treatments
Cancer treatment is constantly evolving, offering more precise and effective approaches. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy are two of the latest treatments that use your body's natural defenses or specific genetic features to kill cancer cells.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of biotherapy treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight diseases such as cancer.
The immune system's purpose is to attack any cell that it sees as unhealthy or abnormal. Cancer cells can hide from the immune system or even stop the immune system from attacking them. Immunotherapy can boost or change how the immune system works so it can find and attack cancer cells.
Immunotherapy works better for some types of cancers than others. It may be used alone or with other types of treatment.
Most immunotherapies do not include any chemicals, but are biological therapies such as antibodies, proteins or cells made by consistent or living organisms.
Immunotherapy helps fight cancer by:
- Boosting the immune system
- Marking cancer cells so they are unable to hide from your immune system and your body can find and destroy them
- Helping the immune system find cancer cells so doctors can provide targeted treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation directly to the cancer cells
Bispecific T-Cell Engager (BiTE) Therapy at Bryan Medical Center
This type of immunotherapy uses special antibodies to connect your body's T-cells (immune cells that kill harmful invaders) to cancer cells, making them easier to kill.
BiTEs have two arms: one arm grabs a cancer cell, and the other arm grabs a T-cell. This forces the T-cell to attack the cancer cell, which may have otherwise hidden from your immune system.
You can have this treatment as an inpatient at Bryan East Campus in Lincoln or as an outpatient at your oncology clinic.
Talk to your oncologist to find out if this is an option for you.
Video: What is Immunotherapy?
This short video from the American Cancer Society answers common questions about immunotherapy.
Targeted Therapies
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs designed to target cancer cells without affecting normal cells in your body. A targeted therapy can be used by itself or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy.
Targeted therapies can be taken as a pill, given as a shot under the skin or administered through an IV.
How Do Targeted Drugs Work?
Different targeted therapies can:
- Stop growth of cancer cells
- Change cancer cell proteins so the cells die
- Kickstart the immune system to fight the cancer cells
- Bring chemicals or radiation to kill the cancer cells directly
Interested in Learning More?
Talk to your oncologist if you're interested in immunotherapy or targeted therapies.
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