Immunotherapy: Cancer Treatment Using the Immune System

Would you believe that your own body can fight cancer? Immunotherapy is a treatment that enables the immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells. This approach is one of the advanced options available at Nakornthon Hospital's Cancer Center, where multiple treatment methods are integrated to enhance effectiveness and reduce side effects. Our medical team holds tumor board conferences to evaluate various factors such as the type and stage of cancer, the patient’s physical condition, and other relevant considerations—ensuring a safe, effective treatment plan to improve the patient’s quality of life.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy refers to drugs or biological molecules that inhibit cancer cells’ ability to evade the immune system. These treatments stimulate the body’s immune defenses to effectively destroy cancer cells—essentially using “the body’s own immune power” to fight cancer directly.

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How does Immunotherapy work against cancer?

Immunotherapy focuses on empowering the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Normally, white blood cells can detect abnormal cancer cells, but cancer often develops mechanisms to avoid detection, such as producing proteins that suppress immune activity.

Immunotherapy reactivates the white blood cells by blocking the camouflage molecules cancer cells use. Once reactivated, white blood cells can recognize and destroy cancer cells effectively. In some cases, immune cells are genetically modified to better identify specific cancers and are reinfused into the body, helping provide long-term cancer control.

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Effective of Immunotherapy

In some types of cancer, immunotherapy is as effective or more effective than chemotherapy. It can be considered for patients who are not strong enough to undergo chemotherapy or can be combined with it to reduce side effects. It enhances response rates and can prolong the duration of response to cancer treatment.

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Types of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that utilizes the immune system to destroy cancer cells. It can boost or enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack cancer more effectively. There are three main types used in cancer care, based on how they interact with immune cells:

• Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs): These are immune proteins designed to specifically target antigens on cancer cells. They destroy cancer cells by activating the immune system or blocking proteins that promote cancer growth. Monoclonal antibodies are commonly used to treat breast cancer and lymphoma.
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs): Cancer cells produce proteins like PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4—collectively called immune checkpoints—that suppress the immune response. ICIs block these proteins, allowing the immune system to attack cancer more effectively. This method is used to treat lung cancer and melanoma.
• Cancer Vaccines: These stimulate the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. They work by triggering T-cells to fight cancer and can also prevent virus-related cancers. They are used for cervical cancer and prostate cancer.

Most immunotherapy treatments are administered intravenously and may be used alone or combined with other approaches such as Targeted therapy, Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or even Bone marrow transplant, depending on the cancer type, stage, biomarkers, and the patient’s overall condition.

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Which cancers are treated with Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy has been approved by the FDA and global medical authorities for treating various cancers, including:

• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Liver and bile duct cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Melanoma
• Leukemia
• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Colorectal cancer

However, Immunotherapy may be limited to certain cancer stages. In many cases, testing for cancer biomarkers is required, and combining it with other treatments—such as Chemotherapy Targeted therapy, radiation, or surgery—may be necessary based on a specialist’s recommendation.

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What are the side effects of Immunotherapy?

Although immunotherapy tends to cause fewer side effects than chemotherapy, some patients may still experience reactions such as fever, diarrhea, inflammation, or organ function abnormalities. Side effects vary depending on the type of immunotherapy used. Patients should consult with cancer specialists and be closely monitored to ensure safety, effectiveness, and optimal quality of life during cancer treatment.

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Testing immunotherapy for cancer at Nakornthon Hospital

Immunotherapy represents a significant advancement in cancer care, helping patients regain a better quality of life with fewer side effects. At Nakornthon Hospital’s Cancer Center, our team of oncology specialists, multidisciplinary staff, and experienced healthcare professionals work together to create personalized treatment plans—helping each patient fight cancer more effectively.

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For more information, please contact:

1. - Website : https://en.nakornthon.com
2. - Facebook : Nakornthon Hospital - International Patient
3. - Line : @nakornthoninter
4. - Tel: 02-450-9999 (Available 24 hours)