Types of cancer immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses our immune system to fight cancer. It works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells.
There are different types of immunotherapy. Some of these are also called targeted therapies or biological therapies.
Monoclonal antibodies (MABs)
Some MABs have an effect on the immune system. So as well as being a targeted cancer drug, they are also a type of immunotherapy.
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that block different checkpoint proteins. Examples include pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and ipilimumab (Yervoy).
Cytokines
Cytokines are a group of proteins that are found naturally in the body. They are a type of immunotherapy that's used to treat a group of blood cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms. Find out more.
Vaccines to treat cancer
Vaccines are a type of immunotherapy. There are different types of vaccines including those that protect us from disease and cancer. There are also vaccines to treat cancer. Find out more about this.
CAR T-cell therapy
CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy. It is also called adoptive cell transfer. It's a possible treatment for some children and adults with leukaemia. It is also a treatment for some adults with lymphoma.
