Immunotherapy is also called as biotherapy. It is generally used when the other methods of treatment for cancer fail. Giving this therapy also depends on the type of cancer the patient is suffering from and the extent to which these cells have spread in the patient’s body. This therapy involves the use of drugs that boost up the immune system and make it fight against the cancerous cells. These drugs are called monoclonal antibodies.

How Immunotherapy Works

Immunotherapy works in different ways. One of them is called active immunotherapy. In this the drugs stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight against the cancerous cells present in the body. Another one is called as passive immunotherapy. In this the drugs administered use the antibodies from the body’s immune system to attack on the cancerous cells. In case of passive immunotherapy, the antibodies are produced in the laboratory and then inserted in the patient’s body.

Different Antibodies Used in the Treatment

• Alemtuzumab: This antibody is used for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is found on both B-cells as well as T-cells of the body.
• Bevacizumab or Avastin:This antibody is used for the treatment of kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. This antibody targets the vascular endothelial growth factor protein (VEGF), attaches itself to it and then blocks the signaling it provides to the new blood vessels that supply blood to the cancerous cells present in the patient’s body. It can be given alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
• Cetuximab or Erbitux: This antibody is used for the treatment of colorectal and head and neck cancer. This antibody targets the epidermal growth factor receptor protein (EGFR) and blocks its activation, thus affecting the growth of cancerous cells. If EGFR is responsible for the growth of cancer cells in the patient’s body, then this drug or antibody works effectively to stop its growth.
• Panitumumab or Vectibix: This antibody is used for the treatment of colorectal cancer. This antibody also targets the epidermal growth factor receptor protein (EGFR) and destroys the cancer cells by blocking the activation of this protein which is found to be responsible for the growth of the cancer cells in the patient’s body.
• Rituximab or Rituxan: This antibody is used for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer. This antibody is found on the B-cells and works by labeling the cancerous cells present in the patient’s body, so that the immune system and destroy them.
• Trastuzumab or Herceptin: This antibody is used for the treatment of stomach and breast cancer. This antibody targets the HER2 or neu protein and blocks their functioning to destroy the cancerous cells present in the body of the patient.
• Zevalin: This antibody is used for the treatment of relapsed or untreated B-cell follicular lymphoma. It is generally given in combination with chemotherapy.

Side Effects of Immunotherapy for Cancer Treatment

There are a lot of side effects of immunotherapy for cancer treatment. These include nausea, vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite and fever. Some patients also complain of hair loss, diarrhea, low blood pressure and headache. Rashes on some parts of the skin and decreased count of red blood cells may also be observed in some cases.

Immunotherapy or biologic therapy is used when some protein is responsible for the growth of the cancerous cells in the patient’s body, or when the patient does not respond to any other form of treatment for cancer. This method is effective and helps the patient to enjoy a healthy life ahead.