immunotherapy

Full Definition

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that works by stimulating or enhancing the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. This approach includes various strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell transfer therapies. Unlike traditional chemotherapy that directly targets rapidly dividing cells, immunotherapy specifically trains the immune system to identify cancer cells as foreign and mount a sustained response against them.

Usage

Usage note: One word, not hyphenated. Increasingly used interchangeably with 'immune therapy.'

In Context

• "Immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment outcomes for advanced melanoma." — Clinical review article
• "The patient experienced immune-related adverse events following immunotherapy initiation." — Toxicity management protocol