Which type of therapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer?

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that harnesses and enhances the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. Unlike traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, which targets rapidly dividing cells, or radiation therapy, which destroys cancer cells through targeted radiation, immunotherapy specifically aims to stimulate the immune response to identify and eliminate cancerous tissues.

This approach can involve various strategies, including monoclonal antibodies that mark cancer cells for destruction, checkpoint inhibitors that help reactivate the immune system’s ability to recognize cancer, and vaccines designed to provoke an immune response against specific tumor antigens. By leveraging the body's natural defense mechanisms, immunotherapy represents a groundbreaking shift in the way cancer is treated, especially for certain types of cancers where it has shown significant effectiveness.

In contrast, hormone therapy involves manipulating hormonal levels to treat certain cancers that are hormone-sensitive, such as some breast and prostate cancers, and is not centered on immune system activation. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific role immunotherapy plays in oncology.