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Immunotherapy

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By Editorial Team

4 min read

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: December 2025 | Last updated: December 2025

Immunotherapy is a treatment option for many types of cancer. Depending on the situation and specific medication, immunotherapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Many new immunotherapies are being studied.1

This article covers how immunotherapy is used to treat cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of immunotherapy.

What is immunotherapy for cancer?

Immunotherapy helps your immune system fight cancer. The job of your immune system is to fight infections and other threats. When it detects something abnormal, it signals your body to attack it. This is called the immune response. It is your body’s natural defense against cancer.1-3

Cancer cells develop ways to hide from the immune system. They can display signals that turn off your immune response. Cancer immunotherapy trains your immune system to better fight cancer cells.1-3

How does immunotherapy treat cancer?

Immunotherapy may be used to try to cure cancer or help block or slow cancer growth, depending on the situation. Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy if:3

  • Cancer is considered early stage
  • Cancer has spread or is advanced
  • Cancer has come back after treatment
  • Other types of treatment have not worked

Immunotherapy may be used alone to treat some types of cancer. For other types, it works better combined with other treatments. It may be used before surgery or radiation to make tumors smaller. It may be used after other treatments to kill remaining cancer cells.2

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Types of cancer immunotherapy

Different types of immunotherapy can treat cancer. They work in different ways to boost your immune response to fight cancer cells. The right type for you depends on your cancer type and other factors.1-3

Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoints keep your immune response from targeting healthy cells. They are normal parts of our immune system. Blocking the checkpoints can increase your immune response to cancer.4

Examples of immune checkpoint inhibitors include:4

  • Keytruda (pembrolizumab)
  • Opdivo (nivolumab)
  • Yervoy (ipilimumab)

A new version of nivolumab called Opdivo Qvantig makes treatment more convenient. It is given as an injection under the skin instead of an infusion. This takes less time and does not need a surgically implanted port.5

T-cell transfer therapy

T cells are white blood cells that destroy cancer cells. T-cell transfer therapy boosts their ability to fight cancer. Doctors will remove some of your T cells and enhance them in a lab. They will grow the new cells and put them back in your body.1

One type of T-cell transfer therapy is “CAR T-cell therapy.” CAR is a protein that helps T cells fight cancer.6

Examples of CAR T-cell therapies include:6

  • Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel)
  • Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel)
  • Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel)

Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in a lab to target certain cells. They can be designed to tag cancer cells. Cancer cells become more visible to the immune system.1,7

Rituxan (rituximab) is a monoclonal antibody that works this way.1,7

Cancer vaccines

Treatment vaccines are different from vaccines that prevent infection. Cancer vaccines teach your immune system how to find and attack cancer cells.1,8

Examples of cancer vaccines include:1,8

  • Provenge (sipuleucel-T) – used to treat certain forms of prostate cancer
  • Adstiladrin (nadofaragene firadenovec) – a form of gene therapy (that functions similarly to other cancer vaccines) used to treat a certain type of bladder cancer

Immune system modulators

Immunomodulators enhance your body’s immune response. Some of them target specific immune cells. Others boost the overall immune system.1,9

Examples of immune system modulators include:1,9

  • Thalomid (thalidomide)
  • Revlimid (lenalidomide)
  • Pomalyst (pomalidomide)

What are the possible side effects of immunotherapy?

Like any treatment, immunotherapy can cause side effects. Many happen because the immune system becomes too active. It can start to destroy healthy cells.1-3

Specific side effects depend on the exact type of immunotherapy and other risk factors. Common side effects include:10

  • Flu-like symptoms, such as fever and chills
  • Fatigue
  • Skin reactions, such as itchiness and rash
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Organ inflammation
  • Swelling

These are not all the possible side effects of immunotherapy. Talk to your doctor about what to expect with immunotherapy for cancer. Call your doctor if you notice any changes that concern you.

Other things to know about immunotherapy

Before taking immunotherapy drugs, tell your doctor about all your health conditions. Talk to them about any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you take.

Immunotherapy is not available to treat every cancer. Not everyone will respond to immunotherapy. Your doctor may perform tests to see if your cancer cells have certain changes. This can show if your cancer may respond to immunotherapy.1-3

Most people get immunotherapy as infusions into the vein. This usually happens in a clinic or a hospital. Some immunotherapies can be taken by mouth or applied to the skin.1-3

Immunotherapy is usually given in cycles. A cycle is a period of treatment followed by a break. This allows your body to recover between treatments. Talk to your doctor about your specific treatment schedule.1-3