An Overview of Cancer Immunotherapy

Review Article

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach in the field of oncology, revolutionizing the landscape of cancer treatment. Unlike traditional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation, which directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy utilizes the body's immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. This approach capitalizes on the inherent ability of the immune system to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells, thereby offering a more targeted and potentially less toxic treatment option. Various strategies have been developed to harness the immune response against cancer, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and cytokine therapy. These therapies aim to enhance the anti-tumor immune response or overcome mechanisms by which tumors evade immune surveillance. Despite significant advancements, challenges remain, including immune-related adverse events, resistance mechanisms, and identifying predictive biomarkers to guide treatment selection. Moreover, the efficacy of immunotherapy can vary widely among different cancer types and individual patients. Ongoing research efforts are focused on elucidating the complex interactions between the immune system and cancer cells, refining existing immunotherapeutic approaches, and developing novel strategies to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes