Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy treats disease by using, strengthening, suppressing, or redirecting immune mechanisms. It includes treatments for cancer, infection, allergy, and autoimmune disease.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor: A drug that blocks inhibitory immune signals, enabling T cells to attack target cells. These drugs release immune brakes to help T cells recognize and attack tumors.
Cancer immunotherapy: Cancer treatment that mobilizes or redirects immune responses against tumors. Cancer is the most prominent setting for therapies that release or engineer immune attack.
Immunosuppression: Reduction of immune-system activity, whether intentional or caused by disease or treatment. Some immunotherapies suppress immunity, contrasting with treatments that boost antitumor responses.
Immune-related adverse event: Inflammation or tissue damage caused when treatment alters immune activity. These toxicities arise when immune activation affects healthy organs as well as disease.
CAR T-cell therapy: A treatment that engineers a patient's T cells to recognize specific targets on diseased cells. It redirects T cells toward cancer cells by giving them synthetic antigen receptors.
Allergen immunotherapy: Treatment that gradually exposes a person to an allergen to reduce sensitivity. It retrains immune responses toward tolerance rather than intensifying attack.
Chemotherapy: Treatment using drugs that kill or inhibit rapidly dividing cells, especially cancer cells. Unlike conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy acts primarily through immune mechanisms.
Cytokine release syndrome: A systemic inflammatory reaction caused by rapid, widespread release of cytokines. It can follow potent T-cell treatments and requires rapid recognition and management.
Monoclonal antibody: A laboratory-produced antibody designed to bind a particular molecular target. Therapeutic antibodies can block signals, mark cells for destruction, or deliver immune effects.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy: A treatment that induces tolerance to a particular allergen through controlled exposure. It is a focused form used for allergic disease, unlike tumor-directed immune activation.

Linked from 18 pages