Immunotherapy

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Revision as of 09:51, 27 July 2024 by Nikolas (talk | contribs) (Created page with "<section begin="oncology" />'''Immunotherapy''' or '''cancer immunotherapy''' refers to using drugs which indirectly stimulate the immune system to treat cancer. * Immune checkpoint inhibitors ** Most commonly used immunotherapy ** These drugs are monoclonal antibodies and therefore also technically biological drugs ** These drugs inhibit the mechanism by which cancer cells inhibit the immune system ** Anti-PD-1 – nivolumab, pembrolizumab ** Anti-CTLA-4 – ipilim...")
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Immunotherapy or cancer immunotherapy refers to using drugs which indirectly stimulate the immune system to treat cancer.

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors
    • Most commonly used immunotherapy
    • These drugs are monoclonal antibodies and therefore also technically biological drugs
    • These drugs inhibit the mechanism by which cancer cells inhibit the immune system
    • Anti-PD-1 – nivolumab, pembrolizumab
    • Anti-CTLA-4 – ipilimumab
  • Vaccines
  • Cytokines

Because of their mechanism, they can cause a variety of severe and potentially life-threatening side effects secondary to overactivation of the immune system. The most notable are hepatitis, myocarditis, myasthenia gravis, and virtually any kind of -itis.