What are the types of cancer immunotherapy?

Cancer immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s own immune system as a form of therapy to fight cancer. This therapy can involve activating, inhibiting, repurposing, re-regulating or restoring anti-cancer immune responses in order to help the patient successfully battle their disease. The types of cancer immunotherapies can be divided into three categories: active immunotherapy, adoptive cell transfer (ACT) and checkpoint inhibitors.

Active Immunotherapy: This type of therapy works by introducing drugs or substances into the body that activate the patient's immune response against cancer cells and tumor antigens. Examples include cytokines/interferons for melanoma/renal cell carcinoma and GM-CSF for lymphomas/carcinomas; vaccines such as BCG for bladder cancers; antigen presenting cells?—?dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens; chemotherapy agents combined with vaccine therapies such as L-BLP25 plus cyclophosphamide for non–small cell lung cancer; monoclonal antibodies targeting TNF? receptors and PD1 checkpoint proteins like Nivolumab®(Opdivo®); bispecific antibody combination therapies like Blinatumomab®(Blincyto®).

Adoptive Cell Transfer (ACT): In this form of immunotherapy, the patient's white blood cells are removed from their own blood sample through leukapheresis technology and then genetically engineered to express markers recognized by the body's natural immune response against certain cancers. Such treatments usually target antigen presenting CD4+Tcells via chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-Tcell/CD19 approach used by Kymriah™(tisagenlecleucel). Patients also receive intravenous infusion so these engineered Tcells can multiply quickly in vivo after being transfused back into circulation. Other forms include transferrin delivery systems such as CAR NK94™for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who cannot manage chemotherapeutic interventions due to comorbidities or age related issues involved in bone marrow transplantation procedures.

Checkpoint Inhibitors: These are drugs which block Specialized Proteins on T Cells called Check Points from interacting with other molecules which allows them to recognize & act upon foreign invaders and tumors .Notable examples include PD1 Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapies suchas Amgen Inc.'s Imlygic®, Keytruda®, Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo®and Merck & Co.'s Keytruda®, Blockade Agents targeting CTLA4 molecule using ipilimumab®, nivolumab ®etc.,LAG3 antagonists like BMS 818553 etc., STING agonists e5276 , ADCC Enhancer Drugs Urelumab etc.. All these enable Patient Immune System create powerful Anti Cancer Responses through activation & augmentation of existing but suppressed defence mechanisms inside our bodies at same time avoiding auto immunity reactions so they have become hot bed off success stories recently !